asked the Minister for the Public Service if he is aware that Tuam, County Galway has not been selected as a centre for Civil Service Commissioners executive officers examinations this year and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Civil Service Examination Centre.
13.
I am informed by the Civil Service Commissioners that they did not select Tuam, County Galway, as a centre for the written part of the 1976 open executive officers competition.
The reasons advanced by the Civil Service Commissioners for their decision are that if Tuam had been selected, only one examination centre there involving only one superintendent would probably have been justified as was the case in previous years. However, it has been the commissioners' experience that problems can occasionally arise in the holding of examinations in one centre with one superintendent. Such problems can be dealt with more satisfactorily where several centres are near each other.
Therefore, whenever the commissioners have a choice, they prefer to hold examinations in cities or towns which are convenient for candidates, able to cater for large numbers of them and suitable for several examination centres. For this reason, Galway city was selected as the centre for candidates in County Galway at this examination.
Is the Minister aware of the hardship caused to candidates for this examination? Due to the lack of public transport available to take them to the examination centre in Galway they had to hire taxis, thus imposing additional expenses on their parents? Will the Minister ensure that Tuam will be selected as a centre for future examinations of this kind?
I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that the Minister has no function in this matter which is the responsibility of the Civil Service Commissioners. However, I will convey the Deputy's remarks to the commissioners. I might add that earlier this year the commissioners notified the persons concerned, including the schools, in the normal way and no representations were received in relation to the non-selection of Tuam as a centre.