Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Question 360: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the details of any organisation under his Department which has informed him of staffing difficulties which may impinge upon its ability to effectively oversee the spending of public funds; and his views regarding same. [28374/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the filling of vacancies in the public service, is governed by Government Decisions of 3 February and 24 March 2009 on the Implementation of Savings Measures on Public Service Numbers, more generally referred to as the moratorium on public sector recruitment. I wish to inform the Deputy that I am not aware of any organisation within my Department's remit that has expressed a particular concern in relation to staffing difficulties which have impinged upon its effectiveness to oversee spending of public funds.

In the current economic environment, each public sector organisation has to play its part in the overall effort to get the public finances in order. This involves making difficult decisions in relation to staffing and resource issues and it is the responsibility of the Boards and CEOs of each body to manage this and to ensure that available resources are being utilised as efficiently and effectively as possible. There is an ongoing dialogue on such matters between my Department and each public body under my aegis, and this provides an opportunity to raise issues of particular concern. The Deputy will further appreciate that any recruitment is subject to the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in accordance with the requirements of previous Government Decisions on the implementation of cost saving measures in the public service.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the organisations under his Department for which an employment control framework has been agreed; the current numbers they have in place; if they have been waiting more than one month to receive sanction to proceed to fill or retain any positions in spite of such positions falling below the agreed ECF ceiling. [28390/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am advised that the table below sets out current numbers of staff serving in each of the areas within the Justice Sector in whole time equivalent terms at the end of August 2011.

I am advised that no area within the sector currently below its ECF ceiling for the end of the year has a staff sanction request outstanding for more than one month.