Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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116. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on efforts being made to fill posts across the public sector, given the difficulties currently being experienced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10593/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The labour market has shown marked improvements in recent years, and this will continue with the Department of Finance forecasting employment growth of 1.2% this year. These tighter recruitment conditions have impacted on recruitment across all sectors of the economy.

In parallel to these labour market developments, staff numbers in the public service have continued to grow over the last number of years.  Between 2015 and 2021, the estimated numbers in full-time equivalent terms increased from 302,000 to 366,000, an increase of 64,000 or over one-fifth.  The 2022 Public Service numbers (the latest is September 2022), including Local Government and the Oireachtas are 372,451 (FTE), an increase of almost 6,558 over the end of 2021 numbers.

Under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, the responsibility for recruitment policy in each sector is a matter for the relevant Minister. In the case of recruitment to the Civil Service, for which I have policy responsibility, the Civil Service 2024 Renewal Action Plan sets out actions to ensure that the Civil Service is an employer of choice with a range of initiatives under the Workforce, Workplace and Organisation of the Future themes to further attract, develop and retain diverse staff.