Publish plan to deal with exodus, Kenny told

The Government has been urged to publish any plans it has to deal with the retirement of thousands of public sector workers.

It came as Enda Kenny said frontline services would remain staffed despite the exodus of public sector workers but that changes under the Croke Park deal would now be tested.

His promise came as opposition politicians claimed there was no plan to cope with the departing 7,700 public sector workers who are availing of the Government’s early retirement scheme.

The Taoiseach yesterday pledged in the Dáil that services would not be stretched. However, he said the Croke Park deal — which protects public sector pay in exchange for efficiencies in services — would be tested in the weeks ahead.

“There are 300,000 persons employed in the public sector; 3% of these are leaving and 97% will remain in situ.

“Clearly, the flexibility that is inherent in the Croke Park Agreement will now be put to the test. The Government has no intention of allowing a situation where it is not possible for front line services to be fulfilled.”

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin urged the Government to release plans it had to cope with the thousands of health staff, teachers and gardaí leaving positions.

“The lack of a detailed plan on how to deal with this exodus is now a major and astounding reality.”

Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin earlier said it would be “foolish” to say that there would be no difficulties caused by the retirements.

He also said the Government could not “bulldoze” its way to huge changes in the public sector after Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan called for savings to be made by cutting pay rather than jobs.

“There has to be an understanding that we are in a downsizing mode. The country is spending more than we’re earning.”

It has also emerged that new recruits to the public service will have allowances and premium payments discontinued while a four-week review is under way, as agreed under Croke Park. New teachers will be among those affected and see their allowances for special qualifications stopped.