Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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12. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the Public Appointment Service does not keep track of the status of applicants for temporary clerical officer positions; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, for the minimal effort to record such information, large efficiency savings can be made and offers of employment can be sent to those who are in a position to accept at the time the offers are made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5741/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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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 provides for the establishment of the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) and of the Public Appointments Service (PAS).  PAS - an independent statutory body - provides a centralised recruitment, assessment and selection body for the civil service.

Under the Codes of Practice prescribed by the CPSA appointments into the public service must be made in accordance with the principle of merit. In practice this means that candidates are ranked based on their performance in the competitive recruitment process, and are then offered appointments in order of merit.

I recognise that the suggestion made in the Deputy's question is intended to improve the efficiency of the recruitment process for temporary clerical officer positions.  However, unfortunately the proposed approach would conflict with the fundamental principle of merit-based appointment laid down in the CPSA Code which PAS is obliged to respect.  In essence, it would give rise to a situation in which PAS would determine which candidates are in a position to accept an offer of employment and that PAS should then offer appointments selectively on this basis. 

The decision on whether to accept an offer of appointment must always be one for the candidate concerned who is entitled to determine whether to take up an offer of employment based on their consideration of whatever factors are relevant to their assessment of that decision.