Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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236. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is aware of concerns that the civil service mobility scheme is suffering from very long wait times for offers of mobility to be made; if he has any plans to improve waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29701/24]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware the Civil Service Mobility offers an opportunity for staff members to apply for Mobility (i.e. transfer) through a list-based and advertisement-based system. It is an open and transparent scheme offering equal opportunities for Mobility to all general service staff members.

The List Based Mobility Scheme is open to permanent Civil Servants (Clerical Officer, Executive Officer, Higher Executive Officer and Administrative Officer). The maximum amount of zones selectable when making mobility applications is 2 Zones, with a limit of 5 organisational choices within each Zone. There are 46 mobility location zones. Priority is based on the date of application.

The Advertisement Based Mobility Scheme is open to permanent Civil Servants (Higher Executive Officer, Administrative Officer, Third Secretary, Assistant Principal, First Secretary, Principal Officer, Counsellor). Staff apply directly to the advertising organisation. Depending on the number of applications, paper short-listing may take place, followed by an informal meeting/interview for further short-listing.

The Mobility scheme is one of a number of arrangements that was put in place to fulfil the requirements of Action 15 of the Civil Service Renewal Plan which calls to “expand career and Mobility opportunities for staff across geographic, organisational and sectoral boundaries” and Action 14 of the People Strategy for the Civil Service which calls for the further expansion of a coherent Mobility policy to facilitate staff development.

It is important to be aware that not all vacant positions are filled through Mobility. The timing of vacant positions, and the filling of same through Mobility are subject to

• the nationwide sequencing of filling vacancies per grade (recruitment/promotion/mobility); and
• the business needs of each individual civil service organisation.