Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 554: To ask the Minister for Health and Children his plans to introduce an early retirement scheme for nurses similar to the Health Service Executive redundancy package last November. [9040/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to bringing about a significant reduction in the number of staff across the public service over the period to 2015, to realise efficiencies in the delivery of public services and contribute to the overall correction of the national finances, while protecting front line services as far as possible.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is currently considering the range of measures that will be necessary to bring about the necessary numbers reductions. Policy measures across various areas of Government activity should contribute to this overall objective and the Government will be carrying out a comprehensive review of expenditure this year to examine all areas where savings and numbers reductions might be identified. Part of the overall policy on public service numbers may involve voluntary staff exit mechanisms and the options in this regard will be considered by the Government in this overall context.