Written answers

Tuesday, 5 April 2011

3:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Finance the whole time equivalent staffing level within the Civil Service staffing at each grade from assistant secretary to clerical officer in January 1998, 2008, 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6869/11]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The whole time equivalent staffing level within the civil service at each grade from Assistant Secretary to Clerical officer in January 1998, 2008, 2011 is set out in the table.

Main General Service GradesJanuary 1998January 2008January 2011
Assistant Secretary94.00146.60134.00
PO Total351.00749.75645.90
AP Total1,036.502,050.361,888.35
HEO Total2,032.503,284.453,209.81
AO Total106.50236.20251.90
EO Total2,592.505,012.334,903.38
SO Total1,287.501,500.951,502.84
CO Total9,396.0010,933.8910,382.81
TOTAL16,896.5023,914.5322,918.99
Note:The above data does not include the National Gallery and CPSA for technical reasons.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of non-technical Civil Service promotion panels which were closed in the past 24 months and where a further competition was held or is planned; the details in each case and the cost of the new competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6870/11]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I assume that where the Deputy refers to non-technical civil service promotion panels he is seeking information on general service interdepartmental promotion panels in the civil service. Such competitions are run by the Public Appointments Service. During the past 24 months panels from the following competitions were closed:

Circular 11/2007: Confined competition for appointment to posts at Principal Officer (Standard Scale) in the Civil Service

Circular 28/2007: Confined competition for appointment to posts at Assistant Principal (Standard Scale) in the Civil Service

Circular 14/2007: Confined competition for promotion to Higher Executive Officer in the Civil Service

Circular 26/2006: Confined competition for promotion to Executive Officer in the Civil Service

Circular 25/2006: Confined competition for promotion to Staff Officer in the Civil Service

Circular 6/2008: Confined competition for appointment as Clerical Officer in the Civil Service No further competitions have been held nor is it planned to hold any in the immediate future.

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Finance, in the interest of protecting the integrity and objectivity of the Civil Service, if he will adopt similar measures to those in the civil service in the UK, whereby a senior civil servant may formally, and on public record, request written ministerial direction when he or she disagrees with a Minister's decision so strongly they refuse to be accountable for same. [6888/11]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Within the central government area, the Accounting Officer is normally the Secretary General or civil service head of a Department or Office to whom the Minister for Finance has assigned responsibility for preparing the annual Appropriation Account for each vote under his/her charge. The Accounting Officer has responsibilities, amongst other things, for regularity and propriety of the accounts and for economy and efficiency in the use of resources and for the management systems used to evaluate effectiveness.

The special nature of the Accounting Officer's responsibilities requires that there are specific procedures to be followed where there is a difference of opinion between the Accounting Officer and the Minister on an issue where the Accounting Officer has a responsibility, and the Accounting Officer considers that the Minister's opinion is not a reasonable one. In such circumstances, the guidelines for public financial procedures provide that the Accounting Officer should inform his/her Minister in writing of his or her view, the reasons for it and suggest a consultation with the Department of Finance. If, notwithstanding this the Minister gives contrary directions in writing, the Accounting Officer should comply with them, after informing the Department of Finance. The papers should be sent to the Comptroller and Auditor General when the directions have been carried out. These procedures are similar to those in operation in the UK in circumstances where a conflict arises between the duties of an accounting officer and a Minister's instructions.

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