Written answers

Tuesday, 15 September 2020

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Public Sector Staff

Photo of Gerald NashGerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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302. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will categorically rule out moratoriums in the public services in 2021, particularly in areas in which staff shortages have been previously identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23753/20]

Photo of Michael McGrathMichael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is a key responsibility of each Minister and Department to manage expenditure within the agreed allocations and, in order to provide enhanced scope for Departments to manage staffing levels and composition within their allocated financial resources, a policy of delegated sanction in relation to staff management was specifically introduced in 2015. Since 2015 it has been possible to provide for significant increases in Government expenditure, which have allowed for the recruitment of additional staff across the public service. 

Public Service numbers increased to 343,700 at end-June 2020 from a total of 339,258 at end-2019, an increase of 1.3%. The number of full-time equivalent staff (FTE) in the Health sector has increased by over 4,500 or almost 3.8% in the first six months of the year and is reflective of the additional supports provided to the Health System due to Covid-19 in tandem with the agreed provision for the recruitment of Health staff for 2020. 

The Roadmap for Reopening Schools also sets out additional resourcing to support the reopening of schools. The measures in this Roadmap include:

- Over 1,000 additional teachers being made available to post primary schools in the free scheme;

- Enhanced Supervision Supports funding is being provided for additional supervision to support the management of physical distancing in post primary schools.

- In the primary sector, to support the availability of substitute teachers, the Department is extending the current pilot supply panels on a nationwide basis for the 2020/21 school year. This will involve the additional allocation of approx. 200 teaching posts.

This demonstrates the commitment to allocate funding for recruitment of staff in key areas in order to respond to Covid-19. 

Such an approach is consistent with the goal of sustainable growth in the level of public resources and staff numbers to ensure that public services can continue to be delivered effectively and efficiently.

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