Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of civil servants within his Department at the grade of assistant principal or higher; the number of whom were recruited to those roles from outside of the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20673/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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There are 133 civil servants in my Department at the grade of Assistant Principal or higher. Of these, one officer has been recruited from outside the Civil Service. Towards 2016 commits Departments and Trade Unions to agreement on the increased use of Open Recruitment to the Civil Service. In any year the Civil Service may recruit from Open Competition to fill 2 in 9 of all vacancies at Principal Officer and equivalent level with effect from May 2007, 1 in 5 of all vacancies at Assistant Principal Officer and equivalent level with effect from September 2007 and 1 in 6 of all vacancies at Higher Executive Officer and equivalent level with effect from October 2007. The Deputy should note that existing civil servants can apply for open recruitment competitions run by the Public Appointments Service and that a number of civil servants have been successful in these competitions.