Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 182 of 29 January 2013, in relation to 68 unfilled positions which she prioritised as critical, if she will list them and confirm if sanction was sought from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to fill those positions. [11374/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department’s Employment Control Framework (ECF) figure, set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) on the total number of full time equivalent posts was set at 6,610 for 2012 and for 2013 is 6,419, which sees the Department having to reduce its number of posts by 191 this year. At any given time, vacancies within my Department occur and change, with staff being redeployed or transferred to fill critical posts. Also the status of a vacancy can change where opportunity arises in a business area to restructure or rationalise posts. Therefore, it is not possible to provide a definitive list of critical vacancies as the prioritisation of the filling of all vacancies identified as critical, is considered on a business need basis, within our commitment to deliver on the reduced ECF figure.

Vacancies are filled in the first instance through redeployment, in line with the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014, where surplus staff from other government departments/agencies are redeployed to DSP. Where there is no one available through redeployment, transfer lists are then examined. The filling of all vacancies within the Department is within the ECF sanction from DPER.