Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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600. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which his Department can facilitate recruitment throughout the public sector with particular reference to essential services such as the health services and others impacted by Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20854/21]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, as part of its national response to the global pandemic, Government continues to make significant additional financial resources available to support frontline public services. In the 2021 Budget, the Minister for Finance and I announced budgetary measures that are supporting up to 16,000 additional posts in our health services, up to 990 additional SNAs and 403 additional teaching posts for our schools, as well as the recruitment of some 600 new Garda recruits and 500 civilian staff to facilitate the continued redeployment of trained Gardaí to frontline policing.

In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for workforce planning in, and recruitment to, the Civil Service. The Public Appointments Service (PAS), which is a statutory body under my Department’s aegis, is the principal recruiter for the civil service.

In the context of the wider public service, PAS assists with the sourcing of candidates for Local Authorities, leadership positions and Hospital Consultant roles within the HSE, trainees for An Garda Síochána, and a range more specialist technical and professional roles across the public sector. I understand that PAS has and will continue to actively supporting the HSE Health Business Services Directorate.

The Client Relations Management structures within PAS ensure that there is continuous engagement in relation to the resourcing needs of its public service clients. Adopting a demand-led approach to recruitment, vacancies are filled as and when required by employing Departments or Agencies subject to compliance with overall pay and numbers allocation.

PAS recognises the critical role it plays in supporting the Government response to Covid-19 and successfully transferred its service to a digital delivery model. This has ensured continuity in recruitment and PAS have been proactive in responding to the needs of clients and candidates throughout the pandemic.