James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason County Westmeath is to lose its tourism development officer, despite the fact that the county and the general midlands region are consistently at the bottom of every tourism league table published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25297/11]

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 and my Department received a delegated sanction from the Department of Finance in August 2009 for implementation of the moratorium across local authorities. Where vacancies arise, local authorities must consider all options for reorganisation and reallocation of work to meet requirements. Any exceptions to this principle require sanction from my Department.

Local authorities have reduced numbers, in terms of whole time equivalent staff, by around six and a half thousand 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.

My Department has not received a request for sanction in relation to the filling of a position of Tourism Development Officer from Westmeath County Council.