Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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203. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the application process for higher scales for administrative grades below the grade of assistant principal operated in his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2652/26]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Higher Scales were introduced in the Civil Service in 1995 following an agreement between the Department of Finance and the Public Service Executive Union recorded in Circular 24/1995. A further agreement with the Public Service Credit Union, governing Higher Scales for Clerical Officers, was recorded in Circular 33/1997.The agreements provide the proportions for each grade which can be assigned to the higher scales. This proportion includes staff who are assigned to a higher scale while working in the Department and staff who transfer into the Department while already on the higher scale.

The agreements also outline the methods by which eligible staff are assigned to the higher scales. Section 3 (c) of Circular 24/1995 states that the first 50% of officers progressed to the higher scale should be done so based on seniority. Section 2 (a) states Head of Department will select officers to be progressed to the higher scale and that the criteria by which these selections are made should be communicated with staff. In DFHERIS, 100% of the assignments at Higher Executive Officer, Administrative Officer, Executive Officer, and Clerical Officer are based on seniority and suitability (meeting PMDS & sick leave requirements). These criteria by which all higher scales assignments are made in this Department have been communicated to all staff and agreed with the union. Clerical Officers who move to a new Department on mobility do not carry their seniority with them and will accrue seniority from their start date in their new Department. All other grades carry their seniority with them on transfer to a new Department.