Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

407. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of temporary clerical officers that have been employed by his Department over each of the past three years; the number of those who have been retired public/civil servants; his views on whether his Department should employ retired staff in these positions in view of the level of youth unemployment here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31578/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The number of Temporary Clerical Officers employed by my Department in the last 3 years is as follows:

Temporary Clerical Officers panels are established by the Public Appointments Service and assigned to Departments upon request. I am satisfied that my Department is compliant with the relevant fixed term contract arrangements.

Recruitment to the Civil Service is governed by the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004 and by the Civil Service Regulation Acts, 1956-2005. The 2004 Act established the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) and the Public Appointments Service (PAS). The CPSA is the regulator of public service recruitment in Ireland and the PAS provides a centralised recruitment, assessment and selection body for the Civil Service.

The CPSA has developed codes of practice to apply to open recruitment and internal promotion competitions. The codes cover the areas of probity, selection on the basis of merit, equity and fairness, protection of the public interest, implementation of best practice and good governance. Selection processes must focus on the competencies required for a post and there is no provision under the Codes to focus recruitment for posts in the Civil Service on the basis of age. All eligible candidates must be considered on an equal basis.