Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 527: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will remove the public sector recruitment embargo on the Dublin Fire Brigade service to ensure adequate staffing levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27381/12]

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.

Local authorities have been early movers in terms of staff reductions. Between June 2008 and March 2012 staff numbers have reduced by 8,432 (20%) from 37,243 whole time equivalent (WTE) to 28,811 WTE. In the context of the very significant overall staff reductions, I am satisfied that fire service numbers have been protected, and I understand that the position in relation to staffing in Dublin Fire Brigade is kept under constant review by Dublin City Council management.

In the case of Dublin City Council its overall staff numbers have reduced from 7,326.15 WTE in June 2008 to 5,873.45 in March 2012, a reduction of 1,452.7 (20%). In the same period the total number of full time fire fighters in Dublin City Council increased from 825 WTE to 858 WTE.