Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which he plans to achieve a reduction of 3% in payroll costs for his Department, as announced in July 2008; if it is intended to effect reduction in staffing levels in his and his Ministers of State's private or constituency offices arising from the requirement to achieve a reduction of 3% in payroll costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32833/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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While the precise impact of the 3% payroll cut for my Department and its agencies will be decided in the context of the Estimates for 2009, it is clear at this stage that the required payroll cut cannot be achieved without an adjustment to staff numbers. In that regard, it is to be expected that a significant proportion of the required savings will be achieved through the non-filling of vacancies arising from retirements, resignations, transfers etc. The impact on my private and constituency offices or those of my colleague, the Minister of State for Integration, will only emerge over time. However, it is worth saying that these offices account for a very small proportion of the total staff in my Department and the contribution that they can make to the overall savings required is extremely limited.