asked the Minister for the Public Service if he has received a request from local government auditors to designate their post as a professional one; and if so, when a decision will be made on the matter.
Written Answers. - Local Government Auditors.
477.
In February 1980, the Union of Professional and Technical Civil Servants requested that the position of Local Government Auditor be designated as a professional position to which the provisions of section 6 of the Superannuation and Pensions Act, 1963, should apply. This would have enabled notional years of service to be added to the pensionable service of the staff.
In order for these provisions to apply, it would first have been necessary to change the entry requirements so that future appointees to the grade would be required to have a certain minimum number of years of pre-recruitment professional experience. The union was informed in July 1980 that the proposal was likely to hinder, rather than help, recruitment and was not, therefore, acceptable.