Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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66. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of new staff employed since 1 July 2013 up to 31 December 2013 and the expected annual costs arising therefrom; the expected number to be employed in 2014 and the estimated annual cost arising therefrom; the expected number to be employed in 2015 and the estimated annual cost arising therefrom; the expected number to be employed in 2016 and the estimated annual cost arising therefrom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33227/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware there is currently a moratorium on recruitment across the civil and public service. Also, like all other Government Departments, the Department has to operate within an employment control framework (ECF) target determined by the Minster for Public Expenditure and Reform. Therefore, the only sources available to the Department to fill critical vacancies, including those arising from retirements, are from redeployment and transfers of staff from other Government Departments and the wider Public Service.

As an exemption to the moratorium the Department received sanction to recruit externally to establish a panel of Medical Assessors. 1 Medical Assessor was appointed during the period from July 13 to Dec 13, at an approximate cost per annum of €71,554. In addition the Department received sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, outside the ECF, to recruit temporary staff for the Public Services Card Programme and the annual Back to School Footwear Allowance scheme. 27 Temporary Clerical Officers were recruited externally from July 13 to Dec 13 for the purpose of delivering these schemes, at an approximate annual cost of €591,732.

The Department is currently 130 posts under the ECF sanctioned posts of 6,476, and is working to fill these posts. Therefore, the Departments staff numbers fluctuate on an on-going basis with retirements, staff availing of career breaks and work life balance arrangements etc. For these reasons, it will not be possible to provide staff costs for 2014 until the end of the year.

With regard to expected numbers and staffing costs for 2015 and 2016, the Department is currently in discussion on pay budgets for 2015 with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and this information will not be available until these discussions are concluded.