Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he envisages the next voluntary redundancies that will be offered to public sector workers; who will be eligible to apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8199/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Government has decided that Voluntary Redundancy will be introduced in certain targeted sections of the Public Service where staff surpluses are identified by management and where redeployment is not suitable.

As announced recently, Voluntary Redundancy will first be rolled out in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and parts of the Health and Education Sectors. These Departments estimate that there could be scope to effect about 2,000 exits over time, mainly from back office and support areas and management and administrative grades. In time, Voluntary Redundancy may be rolled out to other sectors of the Public Service where Departments identify staff surplus to their long-term requirements. Obviously, as Voluntary Redundancy is being targeted at areas with identified staff surpluses, there will not be replacement of the departing staff.

It is important to highlight that there will be no automatic right to redundancy and all applications will be considered in the context of ongoing business needs and service provision priorities.