Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 92: To ask the Minister for Finance the savings, in view of public service reforms, that have been achieved by the public service recruitment moratorium; if the 3% expected savings has been achieved; if the continuing moratorium is expected to provide the same level of savings over the next 12 months; his views on the suggestion from some civil servants that a 40 hour week, confining lunch hour from 1- 2 and providing all staff with the same 20 day holiday entitlement might be preferable to job losses and greater than necessary pay cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45067/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

At the end of March 2009, the Government introduced a moratorium on public service recruitment and promotion, while allowing for certain exemptions in the Education and Health Sectors for the filling of certain key posts. Furthermore, in the April 2009 Supplementary Budget, I announced a range of initiatives which are intended to lead to savings in the public service pay bill - an Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement in the public service, the Special Civil Service Incentive Career Break Scheme and the Shorter Working Year Scheme which replaces the existing Term Time Scheme.

Based on the information returned to my Department, the number of persons in the public service has already decreased by 1,497 between end-March and end-June of this year. Officials from my Department are currently engaged in the process of collating the end-September numbers. As regards savings, I included a tentative estimate, in the April Budget, of savings of up to €300 million in a full year (i.e. including both 2010 and 2011) arising from all of these initiatives. Measures to reduce the public service pay bill and to increase productivity and efficiency are currently the subject of discussion with the Social Partners in the context of preparations for Budget 2010. It would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time. I will say, however, that the introduction of rigidities such as the application of a strict lunch hour regime would be a retrograde step that runs counter to the thrust of the reforms and flexibilities introduced to date. Flexible working hours are tailored to meet the specific business needs of Departments and Offices and to facilitate service to the public by having particular offices open across lunch time.