Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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260. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of current public sector workers that are surplus to requirements and if he will provide a breakdown of those figures. [19943/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Public service reform is a cornerstone policy of this Government, with the clear objective to make our public services more effective and cost efficient. As part of this, Government has agreed an end-2014 serving numbers target of 282,500 (whole time equivalent). At end-2012 there were just over 290,500 (whole time equivalent) public servants. Therefore, over these two years a further reduction of some 8,000 staff is required, across the system.

This reduction will be facilitated by the introduction of improved service delivery models, shared services among civil and public service bodies and other innovations which will allow service levels to be maintained with fewer staff. The required reduction of staff will be managed over the course of the period, taking account of natural retirements and some limited, priority recruitment. 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. The Government is committed to making fundamental changes to the way the public service operates to safeguard the delivery of essential frontline services in a way that is in keeping with the needs of a modern society while driving value for money for the citizen.