Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of staff employed by each local authority in 2011; the numbers by local authority who have applied for the early retirement scheme; if there are vacancies that are under consideration for replacement; if so, the number of same, the specific role of same and the locations of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7650/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Local authorities have been early movers in terms of staff reductions, reducing from 37,243 whole-time equivalents (WTE) in 2008 to 29,744 WTE in December, 2011 a reduction of 7,499 WTE (20%). A breakdown of staff numbers by local authority is provided in table 1.

Based on the most up to date information, a total of 120 local authority employees have retired in the period 1 January 2012 to 27 January 2012 and a further 739 employees have notified local authorities of their intention to retire in the period 28 January, 2012 to 29 February, 2012 giving a total figure of 859. A breakdown by local authority of the numbers who have retired or notified their intention to do so is provided in table 2. A breakdown by grade of the numbers that have retired is provided in table 3.

The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009. When vacancies arise, public bodies must reallocate staff and/or re-organise work or staff accordingly. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities. Any local authority exceptions to the moratorium require sanction from my Department.

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 moratorium is implemented while the appropriate service levels are maintained.

The reduction of staff in local authorities is a net figure, as given the nature of the front line services provided such as fire and emergency services, critical road and water services, beach supervision in summer months and other temporary seasonal services, some sanctions for exceptions to the moratorium need to be, and are, regularly approved. In this regard, my Department has processed some 2,600 such requests since 2009.

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. Information in relation to sanction requests under consideration in my Department is set out in table 4.

Table 1

Table 2

Table 3

Table 4