Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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346. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of public sector jobs offered as internal competitions or restricted to existing civil service or public service staff in his Department in 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31552/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Appointments to positions in the civil service are made from open, interdepartmental and internal competitions. Policy on the use of panels available to fill positions is set centrally by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Further to the query raised by the Deputy, competitions for interdepartmental and internal panels are restricted to existing civil servants and the table below outlines appointments made from these panels in my Department and offices under its aegis in 2017 and to date in 2018.

Appointments to the rank of Sergeant and Inspector are a matter for the Commissioner under section 14 of Garda Síochána Act 2005. Promotions to the rank of Sergeant or Inspector within An Garda Síochána are subject to the conditions set out in the Garda Síochána (Promotion) Regulations 2006. Promotion competitions for these ranks are restricted to eligible serving Garda Members and are not subject to open competition. I am advised by the Commissioner that there is currently a competition in train for promotion to the ranks of Sergeant and Inspector with the aim of bringing the strength to 300 and 2,000 respectively as agreed under the Employment Control Framework.

The following table sets out the strength of the Inspector/Sergeant ranks in An Garda Síochána as of 31 May 2018.