Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the negative impact the ongoing recruitment embargo is having on the public services, his views on whether the employment of temporary staff, particularly in the health services, is the most expedient and cost effective way to tackle staffing shortages; if he will quantify the numbers of temporary staff across the public service; and the section in the Estimates from which these temporary workers are paid. [20342/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The moratorium on recruitment and promotion, introduced by the Government at end of March 2009 allows for certain general exemptions in the Education and Health Sectors for the filling of certain key posts as well as Local Authorities in relation to certain key posts. Information in relation to the posts covered by these general exemptions may be sought from the relevant Minister. As part of the Employment Control Framework 2011-2014 for the Health Sector, the HSE has discretion to fill a limited number of posts on exceptional grounds to support the development of integrated health care and its transformation programme.

The Government are committed to examining all aspects of public expenditure under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure with a view to ensuring that all resources are used in the optimum manner to deliver services to citizens. Information on the number of temporary staff across the public service and the section in the estimates that these temporary workers are paid from can be sought from the relevant Minister in each case.