IMPACT welcomed the budget day announcement that there are to be no further reductions to public service numbers. The union has also welcomed news that new posts are to be created for special needs assistants (SNAs), community and mental health staff and in the civil service, marking the end of a lengthy moratorium which has seen remaining staff throughout the public sector put under enormous pressure to maintain services.

IMPACT general secretary Shay Cody said, “The news that public service numbers face no further cuts is welcome. That there is to be recruitment in some areas will be especially welcome news to hard pressed staff who have faced the challenge of increased demands on the services they work in.

“This has built up every year since the moratorium was applied and as numbers continued to fall. The announcement of new posts today marks an end to that phase, and hopefully the beginning of a new phase of recruitment which will be vital to the sustainability of services across the public sector” he said.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin TD, also announced new teaching posts, including resource education posts, and this week announced that over 550 entry and graduate level jobs are to be filled in the public sector. These include 300 clerical officer jobs and at least 250 graduate positions.