Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for promotions in the public sector within the framework of the Croke Park agreement and his reform agenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13630/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The overall staffing level the Public Service is determined within the context of the current moratorium on staffing levels with particular regard to the Employment Control Frameworks currently in place. The filling of staff vacancies through promotion or otherwise is determined to ensure that the Public Service is adequately resourced and skilled to meet strategic goals and priorities. Building on the progress achieved under the social partnership agreements - Sustaining Progress and Towards 2016 - the Croke Park Agreement recognises that merit-based, competitive promotion policies will be the norm and that promotion policies, at all levels, will be based on best practice.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has concluded his review of allowances and premium payments across the public service; the findings of the review; and when the allowances and premium payments will be reinstated to new beneficiaries. [13842/12]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he expects the public service-wide review of allowances to be completed as announced in budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14302/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 233 together.

As announced in my address to Dáil Éireann on the 2012 Expenditure Estimates on 5 December 2011, public service bodies have to achieve a reduction of 5% in the cost of allowances and premium payments in 2012. Further savings are anticipated in subsequent years.

In order to facilitate the public service wide review of allowances, Departments were required to submit information, including costs, on the allowances and premium payments specific to their Department or sector, and where a Department considered it necessary to retain an allowance or a premium payment, a thorough and considered business case, before 31 January 2012. Pending completion of the review, sanction/delegated sanction for the payment of an allowance or premium payment for which a business case has not been approved by this Department to any beneficiary was withdrawn from 31 January 2012 until further notice.

I intend to bring proposals to Government shortly in relation to the findings of the review. Urgent business case requests are being processed in so far as is possible in order to ensure that the work of the public service is not unduly disrupted during the review.