Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a situation regarding the impact of the public sector recruitment moratorium on the provision of access and equality officers within local authorities; if he finds it acceptable that these positions, which are required under the Disability Act, are being carried out by officials with other duties; if he believes that it is best appropriate for access and equality officer roles to be independent positions within local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24910/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The embargo on the filling of posts in local authorities was introduced on 24 March 2009 following a Government decision to implement savings measures across the wider public service. My Department received a delegated sanction from the Department of Finance in August 2009 for implementation of this general moratorium on the filling of public sector posts across all local authorities. This is on condition that the overall staffing levels in the sector are reduced by the end of 2013. In this regard, local authorities have reduced numbers, in terms of whole time equivalent staff, by approximately 6,500 since June 2008. The work carried out by departing staff has been absorbed by remaining staff delivering very significant savings in terms of sustainable remuneration costs.

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each County and City Manager is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter for County and City managers, in the first instance, to ensure that the reduction in staff numbers is managed so that the appropriate service level is maintained. Where vacancies arise, local authorities must consider all options for reorganisation and reallocation of work to meet requirements. Any exceptions to this principle, which will arise in very limited circumstances, require sanction from this Department. All staffing sanction requests are examined on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services and the need to further reduce overall staffing levels in the local authority sector. In this regard, local authorities have an employment control framework numbers ceiling of 30,000 whole time equivalents for the end of 2013. In June 2011, total local authority staff numbers were approximately 30,900.

My Department works closely with local authorities to ensure key posts are filled. In this regard, the majority of the sanctions granted are for the filling of posts in front line service areas such as water services, roads maintenance, housing, community and enterprise, fire and emergency services and in relation to capital projects. In view of the financial position facing local authorities and the country as a whole, my Department and local authorities will continue to make every effort to ensure that further efficiencies and savings are attained by the sector while an appropriate level of service to the public is maintained. In this context, while local authorities must comply with statutory obligations, including those outlined in the Disability Act 2005, all options for reorganisation and reallocation of work to meet the statutory requirements must be made.