Written answers

Tuesday, 23 May 2017

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

388. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason it is outside of the statutory remit of the Public Appointments Service to manage the recruitment of a CEO for Údarás na Gaeltachta; the person or body that is responsible for the filling of this vacancy; the supporting legislation for this responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24580/17]

Photo of Seán KyneSeán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I understand from the Public Appointments Service (PAS), that it has a statutory obligation under section 34 of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, to fill civil service posts and local government posts at certain levels in addition to a range of other public service posts where PAS is nominated in legislation as having a statutory responsibility to manage the recruitment process.

I have also been informed that PAS has previously, on occasion, made its recruitment and selection services available to other public bodies and state agencies. However, the demand for recruitment services from their ‘core clients’ has increased substantially since the lifting of the moratorium on recruitment to the civil and wider public service and the recommencement of large volume recruitment across the civil service, the local authorities, An Garda Síochána, Hospital consultants etc. As a result they do not currently have capacity to meet all demands and are obliged to concentrate on work within their statutory remit.

This has resulted in the PAS having to decline many requests for assistance from public bodies where these requests fall outside the ambit of their governing legislation. Examples would include the CEO of the National Gallery, the CEO of the Charities Regulator, the CEO of the Education Research Commission, the Director of the National Museum, and senior roles in the Health and Safety Authority, Grangegorman Development Agency, and the Road Safety Authority.

In relation to the appointment of the CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta, Section 9(2) of the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1999 provides inter alia that “The Chief Executive shall be appointed by an tÚdarás”. In that regard, I understand from Údarás na Gaeltachta that the recruitment process is ongoing.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.