Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

147. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he agrees with the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications' recent analysis that thousands more civil and public servants are required to match the size of the economy and the demands placed on the State; the number of WTEs across the entire civil and public service as of 1 May, 2023 compared to the same date in 2020, 2021 and 2022; how many additional WTEs his Department is planning for in terms of workforce planning out to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22366/23]

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

Staff numbers in the public service have grown considerably over the last number of years. Between 2015 and 2021, the estimated numbers in full-time equivalent terms increased from about 302,000 to 366,000, an increase of 64,000 or over one-fifth.

In terms of public service staff numbers across the wider public service, forecast numbers in 2023 are almost 393,000 in full time equivalent (FTE) terms. This is the highest level ever of employment in the public service, representing an increase of over 16,500 FTE on the final reported figures for 2022 of over 376,000 FTE. These are the most recent figures available. This data was notified to my Department by the relevant organisations.

Delegated sanction is the policy in place across the majority of the public service for the management of public service staffing levels since 2015. It was introduced by Government to provide Offices and Departments with flexibility to manage identified business needs subject to remaining within overall pay ceilings. Delegated sanction permits Departments to fill vacancies through recruitment and/or promotion in specified, designated grades up to and including Principal Officer (PO) standard or equivalent, subject to the overall pay bill ceiling as set out in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV). Projected staffing numbers and composition should fall within the parameters of the Department’s pay bill. Failure to remain within a given Exchequer pay bill allocation may result in the withdrawal of delegated sanction.