Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

160. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he expects 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. [11023/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

As the Deputy will recall 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 have been held in late 2015 and 2016 for Administrative Officer, Junior Diplomat and Trainee Auditor. There have also been open competitions for Executive Officer and Higher Executive officer for people with experience in Information and Communications Technology.  Open Assistant Principal and Principal Officer competitions have also been held.

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.

I understand from the Public Appointments Service, who are the independent recruiter for the civil service, that since then in the region of 3,800 civil servants, excluding temporary assignments, have been assigned to Government departments and offices across all general service grades from open competitions. These increases would be offset by people leaving the Civil Service including retirements.

Further consideration will be given throughout 2017 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.