Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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465.To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the slow processing times of the Public Appointments Service (PAS); if there are any plans to improve the processing times of the PAS; how many staff are currently assigned, broken down by grade, to the PAS, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31217/24]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Public Appointments Service is the recruitment and resourcing service provider for client organisations in the civil and public service. It is responsible for sourcing, assessment and delivery of quality candidates to public service clients. It runs a wide range of openly advertised recruitment competitions and interdepartmental promotion competitions within the Civil Service. PAS’ activities are primarily focused on:

• sourcing candidates for roles in the Civil Service;
• senior roles in Local Authorities;
• trainee Garda and certain Garda promotion competitions;
• a range of management, executive and specialist roles across the civil and public service; and
• identification of suitable members for State Boards.

Throughout 2023 and 2024, significant enhancements have been made to the recruitment model used by PAS to improve processing times. The organisation’s new strategy NUA26 focuses on improving recruitment service delivery and maximising efficiencies across all areas of recruitment. In 2023, PAS restructured its senior recruitment service model which has reduced timelines and eliminated the pipeline backlog in that area. In 2023 and in 2024 to end of May, the target timelines agreed with clients was achieved for over 80% of recruitment campaigns. Significant progress has also been made in reducing the general service backlog from 789 in July 2023 to 185 in May 2024.

Processing times are also impacted by external factors such as competitive market conditions and the need to respond to unexpected demands. These include resourcing of new agencies and requirements related to international protection in the Department of Justice and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Finally, PAS is in the process of implementing a new Applicant Tracking System, a major transformation programme which is expected to deliver benefits in terms of improved operational capacity, greater efficiencies and an improved service to clients and candidates.

Period Covered January to June 2024