asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if, in view of the many redundancies in industry, he will raise the age limit for admission to jobs within his Department from 25 to 35 years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Departmental Recruitment Age Limit.
13.
The upper age limit for admission to the majority of the adult recruitment grades particular to my Department is above 35 years.
Would the Minister of State comment on the delay in having appointments made under the two headings of trainee installer and trainee technician, examinations for which were held months ago and in respect of which, as far as I know, no appointments have yet been made?
That is a separate question.
I can answer it because I have the information here at my finger-tips. Regarding the trainee technicians, that is an appointment made by the Civil Service Appointments Commission over which this Department have no control. In regard to the trainee installers, they have now been called for their medicals, the panel is being set up and they should be appointed in coming weeks.
Could the Minister comment on the delay in making these appointments?
It is a long process. An enormous number of people made application, each one of whom had to be examined carefully, following which they had to be interviewed. Then they had to be sent for their medicals — the Deputy is aware of the process — references had to be sought, the Gardaí had to be contacted——
——and the local cumann.
It is a long, slow process.
Question No. 14.