Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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161. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 67 of 19 September 2018, the reason successful candidates on the 2016 regional panels would not be given priority over new successful candidates who may be put on regional panels following the 2018 clerical officer campaign; the reason these regional panels would not be fully exhausted prior to new regional panels being put in place; if those who remain live on the 2016 regional panels must reapply under the 2018 clerical officer campaign; the reason these persons will not be automatically placed on the next panel until all candidates are placed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38834/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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All competitions in the civil service are time bound. In the case of open competitions this is usually between 18 months and 2 years. This affords an opportunity for those on the panel to be recruited from the current competition and also gives those not on the panel an opportunity to compete in subsequent competitions.

The number of positions available to any particular panel depends on the demand from departments/offices and that demand is subject to their pay and numbers allocation. While every effort is made to make sure that panels are not excessively large, placement on panels is no guarantee of appointment to a position and this is clearly set out in competition booklets.

As the Deputy will appreciate not everyone placed on a panels will be offered a position.

There is currently a new open clerical officer competition being run for the Civil Service by the Public Appointment Service. Clerical panels for 26 county locations will be created by PAS and vacancies will be filled as and when required by employing departments. Until such time as this panel is in place the 2016 CO competition will remain in place and vacancies arising filled from it.