Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 293: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of posts unfilled in his Department because of the embargo on recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10294/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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My Department and bodies under its aegis employ some 25,000 staff, including civil servants, members of An Garda Síochána, Prison Officers and the Judiciary. In March 2009, the Government introduced a moratorium on the filling of vacancies in the public service, either by way of recruitment or promotion. Subsequently, the Government introduced an Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement (ISER) and an Incentivised Career Break Scheme (ICBS). Taken together, these Schemes are exerting downward pressure on numbers in the public service, including in my Department and its Agencies.

Given the size and complexity of the Justice and Equality Sector, my Department's focus is on ensuring that key posts that are essential to the functioning of the Sector are filled. To that end, I have already secured exemptions in respect of a number of key positions in the Garda Síochána and the Prison Service. The Deputy can be assured that where vacancies arise that are critical to the functioning of the Justice and Equality Sector, I will continue to seek exemptions to the moratorium.