Written answers

Tuesday, 25 January 2011

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Local Authority Staff

8:00 pm

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 399: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received a request from New Ross Town Council, County Wexford, to fill the vacancy for a full time community warden; if he will sanction this request; when a decision will be made on this matter and if there are departmental policy guidelines on the filling of such a vacant post on a temporary basis. [3368/11]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has not received a request from New Ross Town Council to fill a vacancy for a full time community warden; however, I understand that a request has been received to fill a vacancy for a full time traffic warden in New Ross.

Since August 2009, the Department has delegated sanction, from the Department of Finance, in relation to the filling of vacancies in local authorities as exceptions to the general moratorium on the filling of public sector posts. The delegated sanction is conditional on overall staffing levels in the Sector reaching targets in accordance with the Government's Policy on Staffing and Numbers. In relation to the identification and filling of vacancies, in the first instance, Local Authorities must, where vacancies in key areas are identified, fully examine all options for reorganisation and reallocation of work to meet requirements from within the existing staff complement. In the event that a Local Authority cannot fill an important vacancy through reorganisation or reallocation it may apply to the Department for approval to fill the vacancy as an exception to the moratorium on recruitment and promotion.

The Department examines and decides each application on a case by case basis taking into account, inter alia, statutory requirements on local authorities, value for money and health and safety issues including the provision of emergency services. The application from New Ross Town Council has been examined in accordance with the process outlined above, and I understand that sanction has been granted for the filling of the post on a fixed term contract basis.

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