asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will make a statement on the effects of the civil service embargo on the service provided to the public; if the review of the various Departments' complements is completed; and the recruitment which will be undertaken in 1986 by the Civil Service.
Written Answers. - Civil Service Recruitment Embargo.
21.
The embargo has been an important part of the Government's overall strategy to contain public expenditure. The Government has looked to improved management and the more flexible and economic use of available resources to ensure that the resulting reduction in numbers should not lead to any significant fall-off in the level of service provided to the public. Various measures of redeployment of staff from areas of lesser to areas of greater need have been an intrinsic part of the embargo policy. In general I am satisfied with the results achieved although the need for a less rigid system has been acknowledged in the White Paper and is at present being introduced.
The end-year staffing targets for individual Departments have not yet been finalised but I would expect that they will be fixed very soon.
As indicated in reply to a question on 13 February, it is expected that some 1,000 persons will be recruited to the Civil Service during 1986.