asked the Minister for the Public Service the number of employees currently in the public service indicating the number by planning region and by place of work.

The latest estimate of the number of employees in the public service is 203,000. An approximate distribution of this number by planning regions is given below. Details relating to place of work are not readily available.

The public service, for this purpose, comprises the civil service (including industrial employees), teachers, the Defence Forces, the Garda Síochána and the employees of local authorities and health boards.