asked the Minister for Finance the number of times advertisements appeared in the national press for architects in the Office of Public Works since the present Government took office.
30.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - OPW Architects.
29.
asked the Minister for Finance the number of vacancies for architects advertised in the national press for the Office of Public Works since the present Government took office.
31.
asked the Minister for Finance the number of vacancies at present for architects in the Office of Public Works, and if he will indicate why these vacancies are unfilled.
32.
asked the Minister for Finance the total number of architects currently employed in the Office of Public Works in the building programme.
33.
asked the Minister for Finance if the failure to fill the immediate existing vacancies of architects in the Office of Public Works will affect the building programme of that Office.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 to 33, inclusive, together.
Competitions for the recruitment grade of architect for the Office of Public Works were advertised on four occasions since June 1977.
The total number of vacancies advertised in these competitions was 41. There are, at present, 28 vacancies in the architect grade in the Office.
The large number of vacancies to be filled arises mainly from the creation last year of a considerable number of extra posts not only at recruitment level but also at the senior levels which are normally filled by promotion. Recruitment thus became an ongoing process depending on such factors as the output of graduates from colleges at particular times of the year and variations in the general demand for architectural staff.
The number of architects in the Office of Public Works engaged on the building programme is 62 of which 26 are in the recruitment grade.
It is not expected that the process of filling vacancies will seriously affect the building programme as a degree of flexibility is maintained in the allocation of work between the office staff and private architects working on a commission basis.
Does the Minister not accept that the reason why there are still 28 vacancies is that his Department are not paying the going rate within the public sector for architects?
The Deputy will agree that the building trade is booming at the moment and architects are not readily available. That is our big problem; maybe it is a good problem.
I do not wish to be argumentative with the Minister. I simply want to ask a question. Presumably the Minister is aware of the various figures of salary rates paid by local authorities and other State agencies. Is he aware that the rate of salary for equivalent architectural grades doing equivalent work for his Department and other public sector Departments is different and that his Department pay a lower rate? Does the Minister accept that?
A claim for an increase in the salary of architects is being dealt with under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme. I am afraid there is nothing further I can say.
Is the Minister of State aware that the rate his Department pay is lower than that paid by other public sector employers?
Yes.
There are 28 vacancies out of a total employment of 62. Is the Minister seriously telling the House that the employment of capital of a value of £39 million will not be held up in any way because of a 33 per cent shortfall in architectural staff?
The Deputy is talking of architects in the building section of the Department.
I am talking of architects hired by the Minister's Department.
We cannot continue with this question.
I asked seven questions which have been grouped in two sections. Is the Minister seriously saying that the building programme undertaken by his Department for their projects and for other Departments is not impaired in any way by the fact that the architectural section is understaffed by one-third?
I have already answered the question. I said it is not expected that the process of filling vacancies will seriously affect the building programme.
If being understaffed to the extent of one-third is not going to seriously affect the building programme, is there need for 28 extra posts? If they are inconsequential to the building programme, why does the Minister need them?
If the Deputy had not put an embargo on the Government——
I did nothing but get elected in 1977. That is a disgraceful and pathetic comment. I will ask the Minister of State a question and I wonder if he will have the guts to answer it. Is the Minister of State saying that one-third of his staff are not there and yet his programme is not going to be affected? Is he saying that he does not need that one-third? Do not give me all that rubbish about what other people did; they did not do it in my name. Does the Minister of State have a reply to this question? He is short of 28 architects, does he need them?
I have already informed the Deputy but maybe I should spell it out further.
I should be delighted to hear what the Minister of State has to say.
In 1978 we advertised for 36 architects and from that we got 16. On 15 July 1978 we advertised for a further improvement of the position. We are doing our job.
I do not wish to insult the Chair but——
Question No. 34.
If we have passed the time for questions, may I ask permission to raise this matter on the Adjournment?
I will communicate with the Deputy.