Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 April 2026
22. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of public/civil servants currently employed in Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27671/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraPublic and civil service staffing for Departments and bodies under their aegis are agreed as part of the overall Budget process, which sets resource allocations for Government spending. Offices and Departments have flexibility, through a process of delegated sanction, to manage staffing so as to deliver on identified business needs subject to remaining within overall pay ceilings, which are agreed as part of the Budget and Estimates process.
The policy of delegated sanction allows Departments to fill vacancies through recruitment and/or promotion in specified, designated grades up to and including Principal Officer (PO) standard or their equivalent. Delegated sanction is subject to the overall pay bill ceiling as agreed as part of the annual Estimates and Budget process and as set out in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV). Projected staffing numbers and composition must fall within the parameters of the Department’s pay bill. Failure to remain within a given Exchequer pay bill allocation may result in the withdrawal of delegated sanction.
Under the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956, as the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, I am responsible for range of functions in relation to the Civil Service including the classification, re-classification, numbers and remuneration of civil servants and the fixing of terms and conditions of service of civil servants. Furthermore, Section 58 of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 provides that the Minister is responsible for all matters relating to recruitment in the Civil Service. The recruitment and appointment of public service employees in other sectors are a matter for the relevant Minister.
In this context, I can confirm that there were 1,022 Civil Servants (980 full-time equivalents) employed in Co. Kerry as of 28 February 2026 as reported to my Department by the relevant organisations. Details on the numbers employed in local electoral areas within the county, and locations of employment for the wider public service, are not available.
