asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will give details of the formal training to be provided for temporary clerical trainees; whether he considers this training to be adequate in assisting such trainees to obtain alternative employment after their training period; if staffing vacancies in Government Departments are being filled by temporary trainees; if so, if he will make a statement on whether he considers that this is desirable from the point of view of the trainees and existing staff; and if vacancies are being filled in this way, whether he would consider filling them by permanent appointments made in accordance with the normal procedures.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Temporary Clerical Trainees.
33.
The scheme under which the temporary clerical trainees have been recruited is in fact a 12 months training programme within which experience of different types of clerical work will be gained by the trainees; thus the main emphasis must be on on-the-job training in the course of the year. However, trainees, with the exception of a small number replaced recently, have received a day's induction course from the Civil Service Commission. Departmental induction training has been given to many trainees and is being organised for the reminder. Also, trainees are eligible for inclusion in existing courses in the clerical area being run by departmental training officers.
I am satisfied that the training gained in this way will be of considerable help to trainees seeking subsequent employment.
Vacancies in the Civil Service are not being filled by temporary clerical trainees. In the circumstances a reply to the remaining parts of the question does not arise.
I understand that during the year of training the trainees do two days induction training plus a half day doing career guidance at the end of the training period. I understand the training is minimal. The unions sought an induction training period of ten days with informal training in subjects like letter writing, dealing with the public telephone and so on. Does the Minister think that those in the various Departments on training get only two and a half days actual training?
The temporary clerical trainees receive training every day. The whole purpose of the scheme is that by their participation they learn by doing. Consequently, they receive training of a particular type every day. There is some formal on-the-job training through the induction courses and it is hoped that later in the year there may be some offthe-job training as well. The most important part of the scheme is that the trainees will be inculcated in discipline, including accuracy, punctuality and higher output, and they will become acclimatised to office environment.
As I said when I launched the scheme originally, one of the great difficulties many young people have is that when they attend for interview they are told that though their academic qualifications may be very good and though they may be suitable in every other way, they lack experience of office procedures. This scheme gives 1,000 young people the benefit of a year's experience in office routines and procedures in the Civil Service which will stand them in very great stead when subsequently they attend for interviews in a commercial environment.
Is the Minister saying there is no connection between the facts that 1,100 clerical posts were lost in the Civil Service due to the embargo and that 1,000 trainees were taken on to do similar type of work? Is there no coincidence there?
The Deputy is doing me too great a credit when he speaks about 1,100 jobs. There were 450 posts in the entire Civil Service suppressed last year through the embargo.
This is probably the last question I will have an opportunity to ask Deputy Boland in his present capacity. What is the difference between the Civil Service training scheme and the work experience course in the National Manpower Service? Why are those people simply not recruited from the National Manpower Service who are the State recruiting agency for training programmes? Why have an alternative one if there is not a sinister motive for it?
The difference is that under the temporary clerical trainee scheme the trainees are recruited by me and trained by the Civil Service in a real Civil Service setting for a year. The capacity exists to give these people training in the extensive system of the Civil Service not just in Dublin. One-third of the training is done outside Dublin because of deliberate Government policy. I reject the suggestion that the names should be recruited through Manpower. It is very important that people coming into the Civil Service, whether permanent or as trainees, should be recruited through the impartial machinery of the Civil Service Commission.
Seven questions put down for oral answer which were not reached will go for written answer. We disposed of 26 questions today by oral answers. Question Time ran very smoothly and effectively and without any hassle and I thank the Ministers and the Deputies who participated. I hope that my exhortation yesterday played some part in the effectiveness of Question Time today. I express also the firm hope that this example will be followed.
It may be partially due to the very pleasant personalities of those involved in questions today.