Written answers

Thursday, 3 July 2008

Department of Foreign Affairs

Departmental Staff

5:00 am

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of personnel working in his Department at the respective grades; the number of vacancies at present in his Department and the grades of each; his plans to fill such vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26497/08]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The following table sets out the number of staff broken down by grade/position working in my Department and the number of vacancies currently being carried. The figure of 1,242 excludes approximately 300 staff who are recruited locally to work in our Missions abroad, as well as 90 Temporary Clerical Officers engaged by the Passport Office on fixed term contracts to help meet the increased demand for passports in the lead up to, and during, the busy summer period. The figure also excludes 14 Ministerial Private Office staff (Special Advisers, Personal Assistants, Personal Secretaries and Civilian Drivers) appointed by the Minister and the two Ministers of State.

Grade/PositionNumber servingVacancies
Assistant Secretary upwards512
Principal Officer/Counsellor840
Assistant Principal Officer/First Secretary1680
Third Secretary/Administrative Officer/Higher Executive Officer1753
Executive Officer/Staff Officer1442
Clerical Officer4855
Development Specialist408
Services Officer280
Cleaner170
Nightwatchperson30
Officers from other Departments assigned to work in our Missions abroad440
Total1,24220

The situation regarding staffing levels in the Department is kept under regular review. A monthly report is submitted to the Department of Finance detailing the number of staff employed by the Department and the number of vacancies on hand. As the Deputy will appreciate, the figure for the number of vacancies being carried by the Department is constantly evolving. The current figure for the number of vacancies is of the order of 20.

It is the practice of my Department to operate as close as possible to its full complement of staff and to keep the number of vacancies to a minimum. A competition is underway at present to set up a panel from which vacancies in the Development Specialist grades will be filled. In addition, the Public Appointments Service is currently organising a competition for the Third Secretary entry grade.

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of staff in his Department, who have received or are receiving support to participate in post-graduate educational courses in the years 2004 to 2008, inclusive. [26987/08]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The following table shows the numbers of staff from my Department who received support, or are receiving support, for post-graduate educational courses for the period in question. These figures are in respect of Masters and PhD programmes.

Academic YearNo.
2004-200516
2005-200619
2006-200717
2007-200813

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