asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the number of writing assistants (general service) in the Civil Service who were appointed at a time when a knowledge of the Irish language was not a necessary qualification; whether these officers accepted conditions of employment which provided for an avenue of promotion to the clerical grade, and whether he is prepared to provide such an avenue for senior officers who cannot be expected to compete in examinations with their junior colleagues.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Writing Assistants.
The latest date for which particulars are available is the 1st January, 1938, and on that date 46 writing assistants were serving who entered the Service before a knowledge of the Irish language was a necessary qualification. Promotion depends now as always on merit and no right to promotion has ever been recognised. The officers referred to in the question had several opportunities of obtaining promotion before limited competition was adopted as the best means of testing merit. This method provides equality of opportunity for the whole class and I am not prepared to modify it in favour of a particular section.