Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Finance the value of public service pay and of public service pensions in 2009 to 2012 which underpins the no policy change estimates; the average number employed; the value of the public service pension levy; and if this levy is included in appropriations-in-aid. [42512/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The table shows technical projections of the Public Service pay bill, for pay and pensions, from 2009 to 2012 underlying the figures contained in the Pre-Budget Outlook (PBO) published by the Department of Finance on 12 November.

The pension-related deduction on public service remuneration is estimated to come to just over €900 million in 2009, and over €1 billion in a full year. The majority of this payment is collected as appropriations-in-aid across Votes. However, the pension-related deduction on public service remuneration from employees of Local Authorities accrues directly to Local Authorities and, as such, the Local Government Fund is reduced by the estimated amount of these receipts. Furthermore, a small amount is paid directly into the Central Fund of the Exchequer, which is collected from employees of the Central Bank, the Oireachtas and the National Treasury Management Agency.

Based on the information available to my Department, Public Service numbers were 282,827 at end-2008, excluding those working in the Local Authorities. As of end June, Public Service numbers are 282,115. The budget arithmetic for 2010 and subsequent years includes a savings figure of €300 million, reflecting numbers-related savings that are projected to arise from the Moratorium and other measures. It is not possible to be specific at this point as to precise average numbers employed across the Public Service in future years. The issue of the public service pay bill and public service numbers for future years will be dealt with in the forthcoming Budget.