Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Finance the way he plans to shed 25,000 jobs in the public sector in the period up to 2015; the cost savings he hopes to achieve; the schemes that will be introduced to ensure that these reductions are made in the public sector; the grades within the public sector most likely to be targeted for job losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5397/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Government plans to bring about a reduction of between 18,000 and 21,000 in overall public service numbers by 2014, relative to the end-2010 position, with a further 4,000 reduction in 2015, subject to there being no compulsory redundancies and to the protection of front line services. As outlined in the Government programme, this will involve a fundamental change to the way in which the Government and the public service operates, including the rationalisation of core processes across the public service, a reduction in the number of State bodies and the elimination of non-priority programmes and outsourcing of non-core functions, where appropriate. The measures necessary to give effect to these reductions are being developed on by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, taking account of the existing projections for staff numbers over the coming years. The upcoming comprehensive spending review will also focus upon reform and new ways of delivering public services, and the opportunities and challenges arising under the Croke Park Agreement. This Review will identify the policy decisions within which these numbers reductions will be made.