Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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193. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will lift the recruitment embargo in Roscommon County Council to allow the hiring of outdoor staff, as since the embargo was put in place in 2008 Roscommon County Council has lost a significant number of staff and front line services have been severely affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18205/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As announced in Budget 2015, the moratorium on recruitment has been lifted throughout the Local Authority Sector.

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter for each individual Chief Executive to recruit and assign staff to specific divisions.

My Department works closely with all local authorities to ensure the continued delivery of key services in the context of staffing and budgetary constraints. In considering sanction requests public safety, maintaining key front line services, and economic issues are given precedence.