207 Deputy Mary Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the percentage savings, in view of public service reforms, that have been achieved by the public service recruitment moratorium in 2009; if 3% expected savings has been achieved; if the continuing moratorium is expected to provide the same level of savings over the next 12 months; his views on the suggestion from civil servants that a 40 hour week, providing all staff with the same 20 day holiday, might be worthy of consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4084/10]

Budget 2010 provided for a reduction of €1.48 billion in the public sector pay bill of which €1 billion related to pay rates and the remainder to the Public Sector Moratorium and other schemes including the Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement. This €1.48 billion represents 8.5% of the expected pay bill for 2009 as published in the Revised Estimates for the Public Services 2009. Further details on the public service pay bill for 2010 as well as the provisional outturn for 2009 will be available in the Revised Estimates for the Public Services 2010 which will be published next month. I note the proposal mentioned by the Deputy in relation to civil service working time and annual leave. The Government is open to considering all reasonable and practicable proposals that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of, and help transform the delivery of, public services.