Downsizing the Public Service

[Aristodemus]

Seems that is not having the effect that was hoped for. Not a day goes past that there isn't someone on the radio/TV telling us that paralysis awaits us in a few weeks as essential staff will leave and not be replaced. What exactly did the people who framed this policy expect? When Ireland's Greatest Patriot ( © Brian Lenihan) formulated this policy he must surely have considered what happened the last time such a crude instrument was used, which was when John Bruton applied an embargo on all recruitment in the public sector, then relaxed it so that only 1 in 3 vacancies were filled as they arose. The theory behind this was that it was a lottery whether a particular job was to be refilled so if you had 2 Principal Officers and one cleaner retired, in that order, the cleaner would be replaced. The reality was rather different of course as retirements were reported in a way that would never adversely affect management.
Whilst the methodology is questionable I have some sympathy for James O'Reilly's view that managers are there to manage and should do so with the resources at their disposal. Let them get on with it.

[MacCoise2]

The problem was and is that the government are pretending that the civil service can do the same with less.

That is not and never could have been feasible

[FakeViking]

The problem was and is that the government are pretending that the civil service can do the same with less

But they did, before Ahern decided to buy votes by ballooning the PS numbers!

[newport2]

The only way this could have been done with minimal impact would have been targetting those who were no longer required or least critical to business as usual. Or at least assessing those who applied and refusing early retirement to applicants that it was felt were essential to keep things up and running. With the unions there was no hope of that ever happening.

[jman0war]

I don't know.
There will probably be a few rough years before the remaining or new PS finds their feet.
I hope they move quickly as calls for privatization will get louder the more the public feels it's not getting value for money.

[Prester Jim]

More with less is the phrase you hear again and again in the media.
How could you do more with less without doing everything less well and without fraying the threads of the health of the people who are so doing?

[jman0war]

More with less is the phrase you hear again and again in the media.
How could you do more with less without doing everything less well and without fraying the threads of the health of the people who are so doing?

It's not exactly uncommon in the private sector.
In my last job as people left they weren't replaced.
Which meant there were fewer of us to carry the load.
The work still had to be done and if you weren't happy, you know where the door is.

[hammer]

If they had cut wages further none of this would have been necessary.


Wage cuts when they come will be even more significant as these inflated pensions are being paid.

[newport2]

How could you do more with less without doing everything less well and without fraying the threads of the health of the people who are so doing?

By improving efficiency.

[hammer]

2012 budget deficit €18 billion.

We still dont get it.

Have a look at what Greece needs to do when the REAL PRESSURE comes on.