David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

338. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the formula used by his Department to calculate the cost of public sector staff recruitment if the entry level pay rate was restored to the 2010 rate with regard to new entrants coming in to address additional capacity and staff turnover via retirements from 1 January 2017 onwards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18135/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Expenditure Statement in October 2014 announced an end to the Moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service, to be replaced with new delegated management arrangements to be phased in during 2015 and 2016. These arrangements, which now apply to most Government departments give public service managers the means to respond to service needs arising through staff retirements etc. as they arise, including considerable flexibility to make staffing and service level delivery decisions at the front line consistent with the resources allocated to pay budgets.

The introduction of the delegated staffing arrangements from 2015, means it is now a matter for line Departments to manage their staffing resources, including recruitment, subject to them remaining within their pay bill ceiling. Each Department can, in turn, determine the suitability of introducing similar arrangements for agencies and offices under its remit.

These new arrangements represent a significant shift away from centralised control and allow for greater flexibility in the management of public service staffing resources.

The issue of addressing the difference in incremental salary scales between those public servants, who entered public service employment since 2011 and those who entered before that date was addressed with the relevant union interests under the provisions of the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA). Any further consideration of remuneration adjustment for any group of public servants, including issues relating to more recently recruited public servants, will fall to be examined within the provisions of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2018 (Lansdowne Road Agreement).  It will also of course have to comply with the terms of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009-2015 (FEMPI), as well as its affordability being underpinned through delivering enhanced work place practices and productivity.