John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to maintain frontline services in view of his plans for targeted voluntary redundancies in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43500/12]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to maintain frontline services in view of his plans for targeted voluntary redundancies in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43422/12]

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on reports that he intends to seek a further 10,000 redundancies by 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43361/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 29 and 34 together.

The Government is committed to reducing the size of the Public Service and to creating, leaner more efficient Public Service. At mid 2012 Public Service numbers were around 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 agreed last July in order to maximise paybill savings to accelerate the programme of staff reductions. It was also noted at that time that where staff surpluses are identified a targeted voluntary redundancy (VR) scheme would be implemented. The Government decision of the 2nd of October confirmed that a Voluntary Redundancy Scheme would be made available for targeted areas throughout the Public Service.

Identification of staff surpluses is under way. My Ministerial colleagues are actively examining particular works areas, bodies, locations or grades at which voluntary redundancy can be targeted. 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. 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. The reports that the Government intends to seek 10,000 redundancies are incorrect and are not helpful.