Public service staffing growth
Deputy Byrne raised sharp increases in civil service and HSE staffing alongside reported departmental overspending. The Minister said staffing levels must be considered against population growth, service needs, and medium-term spending planning.
In the past decade, according to figures provided by the Minister's Department, the number of civil servants has increased from about 36,000 to 53,000, which is an almost 50% increase. In figures provided to me by the HSE with regard to whole-time equivalents, the numbers employed by the HSE have increased from 107,274 to 148,268, a 38.2% increase. We have seen today a report from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council that overspending by Departments this year is set to top €2 billion. While I totally agree that, with a growing population, more complex needs and a traditional under-resourcing of certain areas of government and the health service, we need to expand. I have two related questions. How can we ensure that these increases in both staff resources and spending are resulting in improved delivery to citizens? Second, in the event of a global economic downturn, how can we ensure that public current expenditure will be kept under control?
Comment on this
Since 2015, the population has been growing significantly and we have had a clear policy intent to support increased provision of public services in health, education and disability services. Part of the work we are doing as part of the medium-term expenditure framework is assessing what the appropriate number is in for the medium term in the context of the pay and numbers strategy, and what the envelope will be to fulfil that need. Separate from that piece of work, there is a need to drive and focus on outputs and delivery across public services, which is something we are all centrally focused on.
The Deputy referenced that IFAC has pointed out potential overspends this year. Some of the interventions we have made are on education, for example, with respect to the increased demand, provision and need in special education, and also additional supports around social and affordable housing, which is a pressing need, as we know, across communities. How we calibrate and assess the broader medium-term need of pay and numbers will be an important decision as part of our medium-term expenditure strategy.