Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will state the exceptions that have been permitted to the public service embargo; the number of vacancies permitted to be filled; if he will indicate where he expects recruitment; the numbers involved to be permitted over the next 18 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33342/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The latest available data on moratorium exceptions, which covers the period to the end of the first quarter 2012 will be forwarded to the Deputy as requested.

The Employment Control Framework (ECF) for 2012 set a ceiling of 294,400 on public service staffing numbers by the end of this year. This will allow scope for some targeted recruitment of up to 3,000 in 2012 so as to address needs in key areas of front-line services, particularly in the Health and Education Sectors and other strategic requirements including the EU presidency in 2013. Final decisions of where recruitment will actually arise will obviously depend on (a) where vacancies arise as staff retire, (b) how Departments and organisations decide to reorganize and reallocate work, (c) the business case made for the filling of any particular post, and (d) the decision made on this business case in the light of other priority demands.

It is part of the day to day function of the Boards and Management of all public bodies to assess, budget and plan for current and ongoing staffing requirements within the context of reducing public service numbers. In support of this, the Strategic Workforce Planning Groups in each sector are currently ensuring that sectoral employers develop plans to deal on an ongoing basis with the operational and strategic consequences arising from the reductions in public service staffing numbers.