Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 580: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans for lifting the embargo on the recruitment of staff at local authorities to replace persons who have left or retired; if his attention has been drawn to the disruption of services to the public that this loss of staff is causing. [5122/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Under the terms of the Government's decision on implementation of savings in public service numbers no public service vacant post, however arising, may be filled by recruitment, promotion, or payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade. This decision is effective from 31 March 2009. My Department received 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 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. Local Authorities are expected, where vacancies arise, to consider options for reorganisation and reallocation of work to meet requirements. 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. The Housing Grants Section of my Department has not been advised by Galway City Council of any constraints on the administration of the suite of grants for older people and people with a disability arising from staffing shortages or from an inability to process and approve individual applications for grants.