Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Finance his policy regarding staff employed from temporary panels in the Civil Service; if all of these temporary contracts are for fixed periods; if there is a policy of rotation of work between persons on the panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5695/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Vacancies for Temporary Clerical Officers arise, from time to time, in various Government Departments and Offices throughout the country. Such vacancies are filled by way of recruitment campaigns undertaken by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). The most recent campaign was announced on 24th February 2011 and closed on 2nd March 2011. In excess of 13,500 applications were received. A selection process to put in place panels to fill temporary clerical positions is currently under way. The competition will provide a ready supply of qualified candidates who will then be available throughout the country to the civil service and other public sector bodies wishing to draw from these panels. This competition was initiated primarily in response to demands from the civil service.

Experience shows that while the bulk of these temporary vacancies arise during the summer period to cover Term-Time needs, vacancies may arise at various times during the rest of the year. The duration of the contracts will vary from post to post and according to the needs of the appointing Department/Office. Appointments from the panels are made in order of merit.