John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 537: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number and costs of advertisements placed in national newspapers for job vacancies in the civil and public service in the past 12 months; the number of new entrants recruited from the process; the number of vacancies filled from inside the civil and public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11506/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Recruitment to my Department, as with other Civil Service Departments, is conducted centrally by the Public Appointments Service (PAS), who advertise details of recruitment opportunities, in the national newspapers and via their website www.publicjobs.ie as required from time to time.

My Department did not, either directly or via PAS, advertise any vacancies in national newspapers in the period concerned. However, two new entrants, recruited via PAS but from existing recruitment panels, joined my Department during this time.

My Department uses internal redeployment and streamlining of business areas to ensure optimum staffing in priority business areas.

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%). Staff numbers in state agencies under the aegis of my Department have fallen from 951 at end 2008 to 803 at the end of 2011 - a reduction of 148 WTE (16%).

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.

In relation to state agencies under the aegis of my Department all requests for recruitment must be agreed with my Department and also require sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

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.

In considering local authority 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.