Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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55. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on an end to the moratorium on recruitment and promotion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38322/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The restriction on recruitment and promotion in the Public Service has achieved two important objectives:  firstly, it has helped to reduce the Exchequer pay bill, which  had reached an unsustainable level; secondly, it has provided a real impetus for Public Service Reform and the roll out of new and more efficient ways of delivering public services, underpinned by agreed workplace reforms, unprecedented levels of staff redeployment and additional hours.  In this regard, it has been a hugely successful policy instrument. 

There are pressures across the system.  This is why the Government responded last year and provided additional resources in Health and Education, in particular.  In addition, throughout the Moratorium there has been targeted recruitment across many areas of the Public Service where priority staff were required. 

As for the future, resource needs over the medium term have been examined as part of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, the outcome of which will help inform Budget decisions and measures to be announced next week.