Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has completed its consideration of a formal sanction in consultation with Dublin City Council, for the recruitment of 28 positions in Dublin Fire Brigade and the decision he reached. [12348/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009 in response to the financial crisis. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium in local authorities require sanction from my Department.

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each City and County Manager is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter for City and County Managers, in the first instance, to ensure that the moratorium is implemented while the appropriate service levels are maintained.

My Department examines all staffing sanction requests on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services in the context of staffing and budgetary constraints. In considering sanction requests public safety, maintaining key front line services, and economic issues are given precedence.

My Department works closely with Dublin City Council in relation to the Council’s overall staffing requirements and, in February 2013 sanctioned 28 Emergency Services Controller positions.