Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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371. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeframe for the appointment of a safety officer of national monuments which was advertised and interviewed for earlier in 2017 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27259/17]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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An internal recruitment competition for the position of Foreperson, Grade 1 (Safety Officer) in the National Monuments Service of the Office of Public Works (OPW), was held in late 2016 and the panel formed thereafter will remain in place for a period of two years.

In tandem, the OPW has also been engaged in the last several months in a gradual programme to progressively replace some of the gaps in staffing which have occurred over the last several years with a view to restoring the capacity of the organisation to respond at the key operational levels. The restored organisation will have a strong focus on a number of key priorities, including the delivery of necessary works projects and Health & Safety practice and management in particular.

The OPW will continue therefore in the context of developing the renewed organisation to give full consideration to appointing necessary H&S supports to operational needs and priorities. However no definite plans have been made in this regard as yet until a full assessment of needs and available resources has been made.