Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with regard to the voluntary redundancy programme for public servants, the date on which it will open and close; the number of public servants that he hopes will avail of this offer; the amount the severence package will cost; the savings that will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43548/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Government is committed to reducing the size of the Public Service and to creating, a leaner more efficient Public Service. At mid 2012 Public Service numbers were 292,000. This is 28,000 below the peak numbers level of 320,000 in 2008 and is comparable to the 2005 staffing levels. Service levels have been largely maintained, and in fact increased in some areas, notwithstanding these considerable staff reductions due to increased productivity/workplace flexibilities. The Government have agreed to accelerate the programme of staff reductions in order to maximise paybill savings. Where staff surpluses are identified a targeted voluntary redundancy (VR) scheme would be made available for selected areas throughout the Public Service.

Identification of staff surpluses is underway. My Ministerial colleagues are actively examining particular work areas, bodies, locations or grades at which voluntary redundancy can be targeted because of changes to work configuration or service delivery models, for example. Of course there will be full regard for the skills needs and priorities of Departments now and into the future during this process. I would stress that there will be no automatic right to redundancy and all applications will be subject to ongoing business needs. This will ensure that critical frontline services will be maintained. Details of the scheme are being finalised and will be announced in due course.

Final decisions on numbers reductions to be achieved in each sector will take account of the surpluses identified by Ministers in respect of their portfolios and of expected rates of retirements in those sectors over the next few years. A full cost benefit analysis will of course be required as part of this assessment. When this assessment has been completed further details of this scheme will be made available by my Department.