CROKE PARK DEAL:THE NUMBER of staff employed in the public service fell by 5,576 between April and the end of September this year, according to the body charged with overseeing the implementation of the Croke Park agreement.
The report, which was released as part of the Government’s public service reform plan, states that as of September 2011 there were 22,000 fewer people employed than in December 2008.
The implementation body document says redeployment procedures for primary teachers, which have resulted in 850 surplus staff being redeployed, will save €50 million over a full year.
It also says mechanisms which have seen the redeployment of 200 surplus teachers at second level will produce annual savings of €12 million.
The decision by the Irish Federation of University Teachers to support the Croke Park deal has meant that since September an additional hour per week is being provided by all academic staff in addition to their existing work, it adds.
The report states that staffing levels in the Irish Prison Service are now 250 below previously agreed levels and, despite the reduction in staffing levels, the service had coped with significant peaks in prisoner numbers over recent months.
Agreement has been reached on the introduction of new “less costly” prison administration and support officer grades.
“These new grades will enter service in early 2012 and will significantly reduce the prison service staffing cost base going forward,” it adds.
In An Garda Síochána, all salary payments are now made by electronic fund transfer rather than by cheque.
The report says that in the Defence Forces, 710 military personnel have been redeployed.
The Implementation Body document also says that between April and September, staffing numbers in the health service fell by 1,377. In local authorities there was a reduction in the numbers employed by 293.
Civil Service numbers also fell by 200 between April and September.
The document says the Department of Social Protection has negotiated a deal with a telephone service provider in relation to its household benefits package for 289,000 customers.
“This deal yielded €17 million in annual savings and also provides citizens with additional value of €55 per month.”
