Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 362: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with regard to the changes in recruitment policy, if remaining applicants on the panel for Dublin City Fire Brigade will be put on the new panel or alternatively, if a new panel is to be compiled, will previous panel members' applications be fast tracked; the action that will be taken if there is not enough take-up through redeployment; and when the new panel will be assessed. [12499/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The recruitment moratorium in the Public Service was introduced by the Government in March 2009 as an emergency measure in response to the financial crisis facing the State. Under the terms of the moratorium no public service post, however arising, may be filled. When vacancies arise public bodies must reallocate or reorganise work or staff accordingly.

My Department has delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium across all local authorities. Under the terms of the moratorium all local authority exceptions must be sanctioned by my Department.

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each County and City Manager is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements, including recruitment and day to day operational measures, 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 City and County 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 works very closely with local authorities to ensure that critical posts are filled while overall numbers are reduced. All staffing sanction requests are examined on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services and the need for further reduction in overall staffing levels and expenditure in the local authority. I understand that the position in relation to staffing in Dublin Fire Brigade is kept under constant review by Dublin City Council management and that the panel which was in place since 2007 expired in December 2011.

Local authorities have been early movers in terms of staff reductions. Between June 2008 and December 2012 staff numbers have reduced by 7,500(20%) from 37,243 whole time equivalent (WTE) to 29,744 WTE and further significant reductions have taken place this year which will be reported in the March 2012 quarterly staffing return figures.

In the context of the very significant overall staff reductions, I am satisfied that fire service numbers have been protected. In the case of Dublin City Council its overall staff numbers have reduced from 7,326.15 WTE in June 2008 to 6,072.35 in December 2012, a reduction of 1,254(17%). In the same period the total number of full time fire fighters in Dublin City Council increased from 825 WTE to 874 WTE.