Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to reduce the number of staff in her Department as proposed in the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programme Report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45554/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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At the end of November 2009, there were 489.28 WTEs employed in my Department. This includes additional staffing (24.17WTE) that transferred into my Department during the year as a result of the transfer of youth affairs responsibilities from the Department of Education and Science, other functions from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the dissolution of the National Council on Ageing and Older People and the Women's Health Council under the rationalisation of agencies programme. Even allowing for these increases, the overall number of people employed has fallen by 39.23 WTEs since January 2009.

Staffing levels in my Department over the coming years will be decided in consultation with the Department of Finance and taking account of the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes. Account will also be taken of the outcome of the review of my Department under the Organisational Review Programme (ORP), which is being carried out under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach. The ORP Report on the review of my Department is expected shortly.