Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
up to 31 March, 2012. I am satisfied that there is a comprehensive suite of payment options
available to persons with a liability to pay the household charge.
Local Authority Housing
421. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government the total number of housing units owned by local authorities here. [7643/12]
422. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government the total number of currently vacant housing units owned by local authorities
here. [7644/12]
423. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government the total number of currently vacant housing units owned by local authorities
here which have been vacant for over six months. [7645/12]
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
(Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 to 423, inclusive, together.
Data on local authority housing stock are available on my Department’s website, www.environ.ie
and the most recent data published in this regard relate to 2010. As the data relate to
units both owned and managed by local authorities they also encompass Rental Accommodation
Scheme (RAS) and long term leasing units. At the end of 2010, 1,655 units were
reported to the Department as being vacant.
Local Authorities provide information on the proportion of stock that is vacant at the end
of each year, and this information is collated and published as part of the annual Service
Indicators in Local Authorities Report. The Report also contains data on the average time
taken to re-let dwellings. Copies of the 2010 report are available from the Local Government
Management Services Board and may be downloaded from their website (www.lgmsb.ie).
Local Authority Staff
424. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and
Local Government the number of staff employed by each local authority in 2011; the numbers
by local authority who have applied for the early retirement scheme; if there are vacancies that
are under consideration for replacement; if so, the number of same, the specific role of same
and the locations of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7650/12]
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan):
Local authorities have been early movers in terms of staff reductions, reducing from 37,243
whole-time equivalents (WTE) in 2008 to 29,744 WTE in December, 2011 a reduction of 7,499
WTE (20%). A breakdown of staff numbers by local authority is provided in Table 1.
Based on the most up to date information, a total of 120 local authority employees have
retired in the period 1 January 2012 to 27 January 2012 and a further 739 employees have
notified local authorities of their intention to retire in the period 28 January, 2012 to 29
February, 2012 giving a total figure of 859. A breakdown by local authority of the numbers
who have retired or notified their intention to do so is provided in Table 2. A breakdown by
grade of the numbers that have retired is provided in Table 3.
The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March
2009. When vacancies arise, public bodies must reallocate staff and/or re-organise work or staff
accordingly. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public
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