The Government is committed to creating a leaner more efficient Public Service. To this end, the identification of staff surpluses is under way across the public service. Where surplus staff cannot be redeployed, exit mechanisms (including voluntary redundancy) will be employed. Final decisions on numbers reductions to be achieved in each sector will take account of the surpluses identified by Ministers in respect of their portfolios and of expected rates of retirements in those sectors, Departments and Offices over the next few years.