Ms Shirley Comerford:

With regard to the specifications and role descriptions, we are the service provider. Usually, we are approached by a Department, or an ETB in the instance the Deputy described, that will have engaged with the relevant stakeholders in the composition of the role description. We would obviously have a look at this description. Our experience is that the Department's hiring department tends to be all over it, but we have a look at the role specification, and if we note that a glaringly obvious requirement has been overlooked or that the Department has not thought of something, we then flag that for the Department. In the majority of cases role descriptions, particularly for senior roles, are very well developed before they reach us, so we do not tend to see any gaps in them. Obviously, there are some roles that require business to be conducted through Irish. That would be laid out specifically within the role specification. We would call it out fairly quickly if it was missing. We do have success in filling such senior roles. These would usually be in the State Examinations Commission or the Department of Education and Skills. We fill many senior roles in these organisations through Irish.

With regard to the advertising spend, publicjobs.ieis our main advertising portal. We also do some advertising in newspapers and use social media services such as LinkedIn, Facebook and so on. To take, for example, the role of a medical consultant, in planning a campaign for such a role, we look to see where our advertising would have the most impact. This may be in professional journals or in regional newspapers in the area where the vacancy has arisen.

We assess what method would attract the widest candidate pool and we then arrange to advertise through all of those mediums. I do not have a specific breakdown of Irish publications in which we have advertised but I am happy to prepare a note for the Deputy on that matter after the meeting.