142 Deputy Seán Power asked the Minister for Finance the number of people employed in the public service each year since 2004 and to date in 2010: the total employment costs for each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18138/10]

The Public Service numbers reported to my Department for the period 2004 to 2009 are set out in the following table 1. The Public Service numbers for the end of the first quarter this year are currently being compiled, but the projected numbers for end-2010 are included for information.

*Note that the above figures are on a whole-time equivalent basis, and there may be minor discontinuities in the series reflecting methodological changes and updated information regarding numbers in particular sectors.

The Gross Exchequer Pay Outturn from 2004 to 2009, as well as the allocation for 2010, is set out in the following table 2. It should be noted that the Exchequer Pay Outturn is not directly related to the Public Service numbers outlined above because the staff numbers include public servants whose pay is not in all cases funded directly by the Exchequer. The largest category of these is Local Authority employees but there are also staff in some Non-Commercial Semi-State Bodies whose pay is funded from the own resources of these bodies. Information on Local Authority pay costs, as provided by the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, is presented below to the extent that it is available.

*Provisional Outturn.

**REV allocation.