Army of civil servants jumps by 40% in ten years

NORTHERN Ireland’s army of civil servants increased by 40 per cent over the last decade.

Five hundred more staff are now needed to make Northern Ireland function compared to the turn of the millennium.

Back in 2000 there were 1,240 civil servants working across the Executive’s various Departments. Now that’s increased by 499 (40 per cent) to 1,739 last year.

Finance Minister Sammy Wilson revealed how many people were on the public pay roll in response to an Assembly Question.