Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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569. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he sees recruitment in specific vital areas of the public sector to become a policy initiative in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13618/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching policy responsibility for workforce planning in the Civil Service, including recruitment.

The initiation of a recruitment campaign for any particular civil service grade is determined by such factors as identified workforce planning requirements and the need to establish priorities for targeted recruitment into the civil service to meet specific service and skill needs.

In Budget 2015, it was announced that there would be a targeted programme of recruitment into the Civil Service to address service needs and a shortfall in key skills

As the Deputy will be aware a number of open graduate recruitment campaigns were held in late 2015 for Administrative Officer, Junior Diplomat and Trainee Auditor. An Assistant Principal and Principal Officer competition were also held in 2015.

This ongoing recruitment programme supports Action 8 of the Civil Service Renewal Plan, to "open up recruitment and promotion processes at all levels". Under the Renewal Plan the established policy of open competition for senior management positions (Assistant Principal and higher) has been extended following a hearing at the Civil Service Arbitration Board in 2015.

Further consideration will be given throughout 2016 to resourcing and staffing needs for the Civil Service.

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.