(Cavan) asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware that a number of employment exchanges throughout the country are manned by temporary officers who have served the Department in this capacity for many years; and, if so, if he will make these appointments permanent in the interests of the officers concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Exchange Officers.
26.
Permanent appointments to the Civil Service are made through Civil Service Commission competitions. The commissioners hold competitions from time to time for the appointment of temporary clerks to permanent positions. The last such competition was held in June, 1970. Fifteen of the 24 eligible officers serving in employment exchanges applied to do the examination and five were successful.
Similar competitions will be held in the future and officers satisfying the requirements laid down by the Civil Service Commissioners will be afforded further opportunities of competing for permanent posts.
(Cavan): Am I right in thinking that the difficulty which confronts some of those temporary officers is the qualifying test in Irish? If that is so, is it not unreasonable that people who apparently are regarded as qualified to fill those managerial posts in a temporary capacity for over 20 years are not made permanent and are not regarded as qualifying?
I agree with what the Deputy states that this is where they frequently fail. I am at the moment looking into the question of whether or not the standards may be modified.
Question No. 27.
(Cavan): I am pleased to hear that the Minister is reconsidering the matter. Does that mean that he is considering giving those temporary officers, some of whom are to my own knowledge in those posts for over 20 years, a modified test at least?
I am afraid the Deputy would have to talk to the Minister for Finance about changing the method of entrance into the Civil Service.
(Cavan): The Minister for Finance is paying those officers for the last 20 years and they are performing their duties in a satisfactory manner. Am I to take it that the Minister is reconsidering this?
I am going into the matter referred to by the Deputy in his supplementary to see if any modification would be justified.
(Cavan): I would strongly urge the Minister to modify this.