Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how a person was precluded from the competition for position of post-primary inspector (guidance) with an honours (2.1) in M.Ed in education, specialising in guidance. [18243/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department has engaged the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to conduct a recruitment competition for the position of Post Primary Inspector of Guidance at the Department's Inspectorate. The PAS is an independent body established under the Public Service Management Act 2004 and its function is to provide a recruitment and selection service for Civil and Public Service positions.

For the position of Post Primary Inspector of Guidance a candidate must hold the following qualifications:

Hold a recognised, relevant first or second class honours primary degree (Level 8, National Qualifications Framework) which meets the Teaching Council's Curricular Subject Requirements (Post-Primary) or a qualification acceptable to the Public Appointments Service as being equivalent

Hold a recognised teacher education qualification relevant to the post-primary sector (minimum Level 8) gained through a concurrent or consecutive route.

Satisfy one of the following conditions (a) or (b):

(a) Either be fully registered (without conditions) with the Teaching Council in Ireland under Regulation 4 (Post-Primary) of the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009

Or

(b) Satisfy the Public Appointments Service that you are eligible for full registration (without conditions) with the Teaching Council in Ireland under Regulation 4 (Post-Primary) of the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009

Hold a recognised post-graduate qualification in Guidance

Have at least five years' satisfactory service as a teacher and/or guidance counsellor at second level subsequent to the granting of full registration under the sector Post-primary with the Teaching Council in Ireland (or with an equivalent body in another jurisdiction), at least two years of which must be continuous service in one recognised school or centre for education in Ireland or in a second-level school in another jurisdiction.

Have at least three years' experience as guidance counsellor in recognised second-level schools or centres for education in Ireland or in second-level schools in another jurisdiction.

It is a matter for the PAS to apply the terms of recruitment competitions and it is not open to me to intercede or make enquiries on behalf of an individual candidate. Competitions are conducted under the terms of the Code of Practice as published by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) and I understand that in the job booklet published by PAS for the competition, that the avenues of appeal open to candidates in the event they were concerned about a decision made in relation to their candidature were stated.