Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will carry out an assessment of the geographic imbalance in respect of the delivery of public services in which areas of consistent and rapid population growth are subject to the same embargo but in which front-line services are significantly below the national average; his plans regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20324/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Government is committed to reducing overall public service numbers over the period to 2015, as part of the overall drive to consolidate the public finances, and having regard to the need to protect front-line public services insofar as possible. Departments are expected to examine all aspects of public sector expenditure under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure with a view to ensuring that, where State programmes do continue, all resources are used in the optimum manner to deliver public services to citizens. There are no intended geographical targets associated with the numbers reduction being sought. Departments retain their full flexibility to deploy their staff resources as they consider appropriate, to deliver a high standard of public service to citizens throughout the country. Sectors within the public service are expected to deliver reductions in the context of new Employment Control Framework targets.