Vol. 334 No. 8
asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will outline Government policy on recruitment to the civil service; whether the number serving at present is being maintained at the level employed at any particular date in the past and if so, the date.
490.
asked the Minister for the Public Service the extent of any additional recruitment envisaged for the civil service; the number and grades of persons to be recruited; and the approximate dates on which recruitment will take place.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 489 and 490 together.
The policy relating to numbers employed in and recruitment to the civil service is at present being reviewed by the Government. Until such time as this review is completed it is not possible to give the information sought by the Deputy.
491.
asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will give a report on Government policy on promotions in the civil service; and the conditions, if any, which will be applied before promotions can be made in any given Department.
The Government policy towards promotions in the civil service is that only fully qualified and suitable officers are selected for promotion.
The head of a Department is appointed by the Government on the recommendation of the Minister in charge of the Department. Otherwise promotions in a Department are made by the Minister concerned either with the specific sanction of the Minister for the Public Service or under authority delegated by the Minister for the Public Service.
In either case, the head of the Department must certify that the officer selected for promotion is fully qualified for the higher post and is the best qualified of the officers in the Department eligible for the post.
As the Deputy will be aware, there have been negotiations with staff interests with a view to opening up certain higher posts in the civil service to interdepartmental competition. I would hope that these proposals can be brought into operation at an early date.
492.
asked the Minister for the Public Service if he proposes to increase the entrance age limits for employment in the public service; if so, the age levels to which they will be raised; when the new levels will apply; and the areas of the public service to which they will relate.
The question of the raising of age limits for entry to public sector employment is under consideration in my Department. As the Deputy is aware, the matter will require to be discussed with the various staff interests. Pending such discussions it is not possible to say what the position will be in regard to the other points raised by the Deputy.
