Enterprise Ireland (EI), the state body charged with promoting the development of indigenous business here, is set to shed almost 50 key staff in the coming years due to government cutbacks.

In a revelation that is likely to prompt renewed criticism of the government's commitment to job creation, minister for enterprise, trade and employment Batt O'Keeffe confirmed that 53 staff in its overseas offices have fixed-term contracts which will expire by the end of 2012.

However, he said EI had received sanction to fill just six of these overseas posts to date, which he acknowledged were needed "to assist EI client companies operating in key overseas markets such as the UK, Europe and in Asia".

"The public sector recruitment moratorium provides that until the end of 2010, no public service post, however arising, may be filled by recruitment, promotion, nor payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade," he said

"As a result of the moratorium a number of vacant posts have remained unfilled within Enterprise Ireland. These vacancies are as a result of resignations and the expiration of individual contracts."

O'Keeffe added that the approval to fill the six posts to date had helped to "ensure the continuity of services to client companies exporting to these key markets".

"Enterprise Ireland's overseas offices play an important role in promoting Ireland and assisting their existing client companies to compete and grow their market share in overseas markets," he said.