429 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of public sector places made vacant by maternity or other leave that have not been filled since the implementation of the embargo on recruitment and overtime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4253/11]

The number of staff in my Department who availed of maternity and other leave, following the implementation of the embargo on recruitment announced in March 2009, is 65. It is not Departmental policy to fill vacancies created by maternity and other types of leave.

430 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proportion between office administrators and front-line staff in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4352/11]

The total number of full-time equivalents currently employed in my Department is 263. My Department is primarily engaged in policy advice and delivery of professional services. The number of frontline staff is therefore a very small proportion of the overall number referred to above.