Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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109. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way she plans to deal with ex-FÁS clerical officers who were one interview away from the position of employment services officer, that is, higher executive officer at the time upon transfer to her Department. [2975/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The terms and conditions under which staff from the Employment and Community Services Divisions of FÁS transferred to my department were subject to lengthy negotiations with the unions and also involved the assistance of the Labour Court. On transfer, all of the staff in question were designated as established civil servants and they have the same promotion opportunities as existing departmental staff.

To date, civil servants in the grade of Clerical Officer may only compete for promotion to Staff Officer and Executive Officer. However, new arrangements concerning promotion eligibility criteria were recently agreed at General Council.

In the future, competitions for promotion will set out both the relevant job specification and person specifications expected of the grade in question. Subject to having two years satisfactory service, any member of staff, regardless of their current grade, will be entitled to participate in these competitions.