Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of requests received from Dublin City Council for permission to employ additional staff in the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; the number of these requests that have been approved, pending or refused in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34236/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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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 information requested in respect of Dublin City Council staffing requests is set out in the table below. In the period since December 2008 Dublin City Councils staff numbers have reduced by 1,067.1 (15.4%) WTE from 6,931.5 to 5,864.4.