Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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262. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when general recruitment to the public service will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5208/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Restrictions and targets have reduced in overall terms the numbers employed in the Public Service, from a total of 320,000 in 2008 to 288,800 at the end of Q3 2013.  In the course of this downsizing, we have ensured the prioritisation of key posts and services and have allowed recruitment and the filling of priority vacancies across key areas of the public service including, notably, in the Education and Health sectors, and this approach is continuing.  The appropriate  path beyond 2014 will be considered as part of this year's Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, which will examine public spending and resource issues in the context of the fiscal parameters, service demands and the reform and efficiency opportunities arising from the new Public Service Reform Plan.