The Minister for Public Expenditure has been defending his government's record on reform of the public service.

Brendan Howlin says internationally Ireland's public service is considered to be average in size.

He told Newstalk.com's Pat Kenny show that since the downturn he has managed to not only balance the books - but also in recent times to start the recruitment of 1,000 additional nurses and doctors: 

"One of the things I have done, in cooperation with both health Ministers I have worked with is to change the dynamic. We have 10% fewer administrators in the health service, but we have more frontline service."