Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 419: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason a traffic warden (details supplied) in New Ross, County Wexford, was forced to retire from their position; the reason that position was then filled by a Garda who retired just one week earlier; the reason the position was not advertised; if this position was not subject to the employment embargo in the first place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4073/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each County and City Manager is responsible for the day to day staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department has a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the general moratorium on the filling of public sector posts in the local authority sector. Where vacancies arise, it is a matter for each local authority, in the first instance, to reorganise and reallocate work to meet requirements.

Any exceptions to the moratorium require sanction from this Department. In considering sanction requests public safety, maintaining key front line services and economic issues are given precedence as is the requirement to avoid increases in overall staffing levels. An application to fill the post of Traffic Warden in New Ross was received in January 2011 and sanction was granted to fill the post on a 3-year contract basis by open competition.