Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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280. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 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. [1846/15]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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281. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 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. [1860/15]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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282. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 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. [1874/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 to 282, inclusive, together.

I can advise the Deputy that in the period in question there have been no secondments in or out of my Department to external private firms.

A Staff Exchange Scheme between the Civil Service and the Private Sector was announced on a pilot basis by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in 2013. The scheme is available to staff in my Department at Higher Executive Officer, Administrative Officer, Assistant Principal and Principal Officer grades. However, given the significant reduction in staff numbers in my Department, approval of an application is subject to confirmation from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that, in accordance with the terms of the scheme, an applicant may be replaced for the duration of the temporary assignment. Aside from that aspect, there are no impediments to staff of my Department participating in the exchange scheme.

Finally, some staff have moved in the period in question on assignment to the EU institutions, where, notwithstanding the downsizing pressures on the Department, such assignments were considered to be in the broader developmental interests of the staff concerned, the Department and the wider Civil Service.