Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 378: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of persons in Údarás na Gaeltachta, An Foras Teanga, Waterways Ireland, the Western Development Commission and any other agency under the remit of his Department in terms of whole-time equivalents employed prior to the introduction of the moratorium; the estimated number currently employed; the target number at which point the moratorium will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20039/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The following table sets out the details requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of persons employed in Údarás na Gaeltachta, An Foras Teanga, Waterways Ireland, the Western Development Commission and other agencies funded from my Department's Vote Group.

In relation to the Deputy's query regarding the target number at which point the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service will end, the precise ceilings in each area are subject to any future Government policy decisions and priorities in regard to public service provision. The Government will keep the application of the moratorium on recruitment and promotion under review and the matter will be revisited in each sector as the staffing levels in the Employment Control Frameworks for the sectors are achieved.

The Deputy also requested details in relation to An Foras Teanga and Waterways Ireland, both of which are North/South Implementation Bodies that come under the remit of my Department. Details in relation to numbers employed in those Bodies are also reflected in the following table. However, I must stress to the Deputy that these bodies are exempt from the requirements of the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service and other public service number reducing measures. It should also be noted that neither of the Bodies have yet met their approved staffing complement and are in the process of recruiting staff, in line with approvals from the Departments of Finance in both jurisdictions and the North/South Ministerial Council.

[1] The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service and other numbers reducing initiatives do not apply to North/South Implementation Bodies.