Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of civil and public servants at present and at the end of each of the past three years in each Government Department, and in each agency or authority under the aegis of each of these Departments, in tabular form; the breakdown of these figures by function, where appropriate (details supplied); the aggregate pay bills for each of these Departments, agencies and authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24200/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Public Service numbers at the end of each of the past three years, as reported to my Department, are presented in Table 1 below. The Public Service numbers for the end of the first quarter this year are currently being compiled. In functional terms, the public service is composed of the civil service, the education sector, the justice sector, the health sector, the local authorities and the non-commercial agencies. These numbers are based on information reported to my Department and may be subject to revision as new information becomes available. Insofar as possible, the figures are broken down by functional classification within each Department. It should also be noted that a new system for monitoring public service numbers was developed and implemented in 2009. This system uses the December 2008 figures as its base. The system is still being refined and enhanced and there may be minor discontinuities in the series reflecting methodological changes and updated information regarding numbers in particular sectors.

The Gross Exchequer Pay Outturns (excluding pensions) within each Vote from 2007 to 2009 are set out in Table 2. It has been broken down to subhead level. It should be noted that the Exchequer Pay Outturn cannot be directly related to the Public Service numbers outlined in Table 1 in all cases, as the staff numbers include public servants whose pay is not in all cases funded directly by the Exchequer. The largest category of these is Local Authority employees but there are also staff in some Non-Commercial Semi-State Bodies whose pay is wholly or partially funded from the own resources of these bodies.

More detailed information on the pay bill for agencies/bodies may be sought from the Ministers under whose aegis the agencies come. I should point out that general information in regard to Pay and Numbers is also set out in the Revised Estimated Volume 2010.