John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 478: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the public service embargo prevents the movement of public servants such as planners from one local authority to another to fill vacant permanent positions. [3489/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My Department has a delegated sanction from the Department of Finance for implementation of the general moratorium on the filling of public sector posts in the Local Authority Sector, on the condition that the overall staffing levels in the local authority sector are to be reduced significantly by the end of 2010 in adherence with the Government's Policy on Staffing and Numbers in the Public Sector.

Under the new arrangements which issued to the local authority sector on 20 August 2009, Local Authorities are expected, where vacancies arise, to consider options for reorganisation and reallocation of work to meet requirements. Any exceptions to this principle, which will arise in very limited circumstances, require sanction from my Department.

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each County and City Manager is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible, including the employment of Planners, in compliance with the relevant public sector recruitment and employment law requirements.