Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of appointments to principal officer level and above made in the Civil Service in the past seven months; the number of successful candidates who came from outside traditional Civil Service structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34497/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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In the period covered by the question there were 2 appointments at PO1 level to posts in the civil service. These appointments were to fill posts at the grade of Senior HR Manager in the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. One appointee came from the private sector and the other from the wider public sector.

In relation to appointments above Principal Officer level, the Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) holds competitions for and advises Ministers/ Government as appropriate on appointments to civil service posts at Secretary General, Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary and equivalent levels. Since early 2007 the policy has been that open competitions are held for Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary and equivalent posts and more recently this policy has been extended to Secretary General posts, with the exception of a limited number of Secretary General posts which are filled by the Government without a TLAC competition.

In 2011 (to date) three appointments have been made from TLAC competitions; 2 from the private sector and the other from the wider public sector.