Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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70. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he sees recruitment, in specific vital areas of the public sector, being adopted as a policy initiative in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12335/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for workforce planning and recruitment to the Civil Service. In Budget 2015, I was pleased to be able to announce that there will be a targeted programme of recruitment into the Civil Service to address service needs and a shortfall in key skills commencing in late 2014 and continuing during 2015. The Deputy may wish to be aware that a number of open competitions have since already taken place or are in process.

This ongoing recruitment programme supports Action 8 of the Renewal Plan, to "open up recruitment and promotion processes at all levels". Under the Renewal Plan the established policy of open competition for all senior management positions (Assistant Principal and higher) will be extended. Further consideration will be given throughout 2015 to resourcing and staffing needs for the .

Recruitment plans for the public service more generally are a matter, in the first instance, for the Minister with responsibility for each of the relevant sectors of the public service.