asked the Minister for Finance if he will state what is the system of making appointments to the ranks of Customs Preventive men; if recruitment is made by open competitive examination, whether he is in a position to indicate the date of the next competitive examination and the approximate number of vacancies; and if he will also state when the last examination was held, whether it was competitive or otherwise and how many appointments were made as a result.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Customs Preventive Men.
Appointments to the rank of established Customs Preventive Men are made as the result of open examinations held from time to time by the Civil Service Commissioners at the request of the Revenue Commissioners. A written qualifying examination is held, followed by interview of the candidates who qualify, and the appointments are made by competitive selection from amongst these. It is not possible, at present, to state when the next examination for such posts will be held. The last such examination was held in March, 1931, as a result of which seven appointments were made.
A number of temporary preventive men were recently appointed to the Customs Land Frontier. These men were specially recruited by selection, without examination, to meet the position arising out of the imposition of the additional Customs duties.