Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the mechanism he will use to achieve the 3% reduction in payroll costs for his Department as announced in July 2008; the areas, sections or agencies that will be affected by the reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33513/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Government decided in July, on a number of spending measures to maintain a prudent fiscal out-turn for 2008 and to provide the basis for a sustainable approach to the financial situation in 2009.

One of the measures decided upon was a requirement that all Departments, State Agencies and Local Authorities — other than Health and Education — will be required to reduce their payroll bill by 3% by the end of 2009 through all appropriate measures identified by local management in the light of local circumstances. It is anticipated that measures to be taken in this regard may include control of premium pay, management of vacancies, the organisation of work processes and the levels at which work is carried out, as well as control of numbers through recruitment and other measures.

My Department will be working with the Department of Finance to ensure that the appropriate steps are taken to achieve the savings required.