Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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223. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of secondments from his Department to external private firms in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; the firms involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1848/15]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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224. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of secondments based in his Department from external private firms in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; the firms involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1862/15]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has a policy regarding secondments from and within his Department to external firms; when the policy was initiated and last updated; the details of the policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1876/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 to 225, inclusive, together.

Responding to this PQ I will also deal with PQs 1862/15 and 1876/15 as the questions are related.

My Department was established in July 2011 and I can confirm that we have not had any secondments out or into the Department involving private firms.

Circular 03/2013, "Staff Exchange Scheme between the Civil Service and the Private Sector" sets out the details of how such secondments would operate.  This scheme is along the lines of the Temporary Staff Transfer Scheme provided for under Department of the Public Service Circular 10/1979.  The scheme will run on a pilot basis for two years and will be reviewed at the end of the second year of operation.  Circular 3/2013 is available on my Departments website and I am attaching a copy for your convenience.