Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the areas in which he has identified surplus numbers such that they will be targeted under his recently announced public sector voluntary redundancy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51643/12]

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 the 3rd Quarter of 2012 Public Service numbers were some 291,000. This is 29,000 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 and Ministers have been asked to look for ways numbers could be shed through work redesign, new service delivery models, greater use of new technologies etc.

The task of identifying staff surpluses is underway across the public service. As part of this process local management will need to examine the normal expected retirements, future skill needs of the body and appropriate staffing levels required now and into the future. Where surplus staff cannot be redeployed, exit mechanisms (including voluntary redundancy) will be employed. 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 as necessary.

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, Departments and Offices over the next few years.