THERE WERE no staffing issues in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Taoiseach Brian Cowen told the Dáil.

He said the number of whole-time equivalent staff employed in the office on April 1st this year was 195.52 compared with 196.2 on the same date in 2008.

During that period the number of staff on the directing and solicitors’ divisions had increased by 5.12 whole-time equivalents, while the number in the administration and policy divisions had decreased by 5.8.

“In other words, the director has been able to achieve savings and efficiencies in the administration of his office so as to preserve frontline prosecution services and meet the increase in his workload over the last two years without having to increase overall staff numbers.”

Mr Cowen said following a review of staffing requirements in 2007, the Minister for Finance had approved 28 new permanent posts and one contract post. Twenty-one of those posts were for legal and professional grades, reflecting the increase in the volume and complexity of the work undertaken by the office.

Mr Cowen said €43.854 million had been provided in this year’s estimates to meet the cost of the office in the current year.

“My department’s officials will continue to work with officials from the director’s office and the Department of Finance to ensure that the necessary resources continue to be available to the director to enable him to discharge his functions fully and effectively,” Mr Cowen said.