asked the Minister for Labour if there is the full complement of (a) placement officers (b) regional officers and (c) guidance officers in his Department; and whether he intends to increase the numerical strength of these categories.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Department of Labour Officers.
8.
There are five vacancies for placement officers and four vacancies for occupational guidance officers. Following the holding of competitions by the Civil Service Commissioners these vacancies are now in process of being filled.
An increase in the numbers serving is not contemplated at present, but the strength of the service continues to be kept under review.
Could the Minister let me know when the last survey was undertaken which would show the maximum number of the various grades in his Department, if the Minister is working to the maximum number in each category and can he tell me when that maximum number was last fixed?
We have six occupational guidance officers and 64 placement officers. We are filling further vacancies in the two grades.
I was bearing in mind what the maximum number allowed is and I wanted to know when this maximum was fixed.
Our object in the placement officer grade is to reach a maximum of 120. At present we have 64 and I regard that to be quite adequate at present. The figure of 120 was fixed about a year ago.
In view of the large amount of unemployment and the number of school leavers becoming available for work, would the Minister not reconsider these figures with a view to increasing the number substantially?
There is a great deal of work falling on placement officers who are performing a very important role. Their rate of job filling in relation to the vacancies occurring is, of course, down because of the present recession but they are still attaining a high rate of success considering the difficulties. My objective would be to get to the full complement of 120 placement officers at the earliest possible opportunity. The Deputy is aware of the general position in relation to borrowing and taxation and the constraints on the Minister for the Public Service.
The Minister must surely be aware of the many young people coming on the labour market and he must also be aware in this time of high unemployment that the presence of guidance officers would be of some consolation.
There has been a large increase in the number of persons in the placement service.