Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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23. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will lift the public sector recruitment embargo in order to secure the effective delivery of necessary public services. [38169/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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As I have previously advised the House, there is no embargo on recruitment in the Public Service.  To safeguard frontline and priority services, the Government has allowed for critical posts to be filled throughout the period of reduction of public service numbers.  In addition to this ongoing recruitment, special provision was made in last October's Budget for the recruitment into key front line sectors, including more than 900 extra resource teachers for the school system.  Public service numbers have actually increased this year compared with last year. 

The ongoing objective of the Government will be to ensure that we have an efficient and effective Public Service for the future, and one that is also affordable and sustainable.  This is why 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.