Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 487: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of vacancies for all the local authorities across the country since the staffing moratorium began in March 2009; if he will also indicate the total number of vacancies by Department and by local authority since the same date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21853/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009 in response to the financial crisis. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium in local authorities require sanction from my Department.

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each City and County 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 City and County Managers, in the first instance, to ensure that the moratorium is implemented while the appropriate service levels are maintained. My Department examines all staffing sanction requests on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services in the context of staffing and budgetary constraints. In considering sanction requests public safety, maintaining key front line services, and economic issues are given precedence.

The number of staff employed across all 34 local authorities at end of June 2008 was 37,243, compared to 28,765 at end of March 2012, a reduction of 8,478 whole time equivalent basis (WTE). 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, 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 3,448 such requests since 2009. The staffing reductions for each local authority for the period June 2008 to March 2012 are outlined in the table below on a WTE basis.

My Department is working with local authorities to ensure that optimal numbers and critical posts are identified and that critical posts are filled. In this regard, there is a joint Departmental-Local Authority group established that is examining national trends and optimal organisation structures.