Kenny pledges better public service

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin, Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, and Minister of State Brian Hayes at today's press conference in Government Buildings. Photograph: Eric Luke/The Irish Times

MARY MINIHAN

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the programme of public sector reform announced this afternoon would produce a “leaner, smarter, better public service”.

The document was a “central pillar” of the Government’s plan “to get Ireland working again”, the Fine Gael leader said.

“Today we draw a line under the decentralisation programme,” Mr Kenny said. He described the plan as one of the most ill-judged of the previous administration’s ideas.

He said the Budget to be announced on December 6th would be “challenging and tough” for everyone.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said the document was an example of the Government’s determination “not to waste a crisis”. Mr Gilmore said the plan was more than a series of cost-cutting measures - it was a “blueprint” for reform of the public service.

Mr Gilmore claimed that when the economic crisis struck, there had been a sponsored campaign of “abuse and vilification” of the public service, which he said “came from the last government”, and “vulgar commentary” was reflected in newspaper articles and other media coverage.

There would be “no public sector bashing” from the current Government, he said. Mr Gilmore said the public sector could of course learn lessons from the private sector, but many public sector organisations were “fundamentally different” from private companies.

He said the Croke Park agreement was delivering, “but it will have to continue delivering”.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin said the further reductions in public service numbers he announced would reduce the pay bill by over €2.5 billion, or 15 per cent, on the 2008 figure.

He said the total number of public service employees would be reduced by a further 23,500 by 2015, based on the figures at the end of 2010. “That’s an extraordinary reduction,” he said.

Announcing cuts in the number of State bodies, he said 48 organisations would be “rationalised” by the end of 2012, with a further 46 due to be reviewed by the middle of next year.

On decentralisation, he said some 40 projects yet to take place would now be cancelled. A total of 32 projects would be left “in situ”, particularly in cases where permanent accommodation has been provided, and 22 others were being reviewed “right now”.

Referring to the standardisation of annual leave allowances, Mr Howlin said final proposals had been sent to the public service unions for their agreement. He was confidence they would be acceptable.

“These arrangements will see the abolition of historically based local leave arrangements such as festival and race days,” he said.

Mr Howlin said public servants had responded well to the challenges faced and paid tribute to them. He insisted the plan would not “gather dust”.