Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 58: To ask the Minister for Finance the savings across Departments achieved by the implementation of the Croke Park Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41608/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy will be aware, over the last two years, the Government has taken a series of difficult but critical steps which have generated significant reductions in the potential public service pay bill. As a consequence, the public service pay roll will be over 8% less in 2010 compared to 2009, and nearly 12% less than in 2008. These measures include the non payment of proposed general round increases under the Review and Transitional Agreement, the application of a pension related deduction of an average of nearly 7% to the earnings of all public servants and, at the beginning of this year, a reduction in the rates of pay and allowances for public servants was implemented under the terms of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act, 2009. In addition to these measures, the introduction of a general moratorium on recruitment and promotion together with incentivised early retirement and career break schemes, along with natural turnover of public servants who retire or leave, has led to a reduction in the number of public servants employed by almost 11,000 since March 2009 of which approximately 2,500 were Civil Servants across Government Departments. Despite the reduced numbers, there has been no reduction in services as productivity across the public service has been increasing.

Government policy on staff numbers in the public service is reflected in employment control frameworks for each sector of the public service. The continued application of the frameworks across the public service will result in a further reduction in public service employee numbers, and consequently the public service paybill, up to 2012.

The reduced numbers will require changes in manning levels and work practices. The Croke Park Agreement will facilitate co-operation by staff with the actions which will have to be taken in every public service organisation to maintain continuity of services.