andMrs. Glenn asked the Taoiseach the number of applicants from the live register of unemployed persons who were given the opportunity to obtain work as field supervisors and enumerators for the Census report.
2.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Census of Population.
1.
andMrs. Glenn asked the Taoiseach the number of (a) women and (b) men employed in the Census report; and the criteria for employment.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
There are 3,554 persons employed in the field force for the 1986 Census of Population of whom 2,503 are women and 1,051 are men. Field staff were recruited at three levels, that is 35 senior supervisors, 298 field supervisors and 3,221 enumerators, separate procedures being involved in each case.
The details are as follows:
A. Senior Supervisory Posts (whole-time)
Applications were invited by public advertisements. To be eligible for consideration it was essential that candidates
(1) be not less than 30 years of age on 1 July 1985.
(2) be free to take up a whole-time post for a period of about 10 to 12 months.
(3) have had considerable experience in a managerial or executive position, preferably one which required a high degree of initiative and involved the organisation and supervision of substantial numbers of staff.
(4) be able to drive a car, hold a current full driving licence and have the full-time use of a car for the period of employment on the Census.
(5) possess the requisite knowledge and ability to undertake the duties of the post.
Furthermore, it was desirable that candidates should have a good secondary education with leaving certificate or an equivalent or higher qualification. It was also an advantage to have practical experience in supervising or conducting household surveys, market research interviewing or practical social work.
Appointment to these posts was on the basis of open competitive interview and was offered to the highest qualified candidate at interview. Among the 35 persons filling the posts are 18 who indicated that they were unemployed; a further 3 unemployed persons declined offers of appointment while 2 unemployed persons who accepted employment, subsequently resigned.
B. Field Supervisor Posts (whole-time) Applications were also invited by public advertisements. To be eligible for consideration for these posts it was essential that candidates
(1) be not less than 24 years of age on 1 November 1985.
(2) be free to take up a whole-time post for a period of about 7 months.
(3) be able to drive a car, hold a current full driving licence and have the full-time use of a car for the period of employment on the Census.
(4) possess the requisite knowledge and ability to undertake the duties of the post.
Furthermore, it was desirable that candidates should have a good general education; some experience in the organisation, training and supervision of staff; and practical experience in supervising or conducting household surveys, market research interviewing or practical social work.
In making appointments following competitive interview, priority was given (subject to location constraints) to persons qualified by the interview board and who were on UB/UA and to those who, on the basis of information coming to light at interview, seemed to be in economic need although not on UB/UA.
Of the total of 298 posts, 187 are filled by persons on UB/UA and 59 by other persons "in economic need"— a combined total of 246. In addition 48 persons on UB/UA and 3 "in economic need" declined offers of appointment; while 6 persons on UB/UA who accepted offers of appointment subsequently resigned.
C. Enumerator Posts (part-time)
A notice of recruitment of part-time enumerators, indicating the necessary qualifications, was placed in the public press on 13 November 1985, stating that preference would be given to suitable persons who were unemployed. It also indicated that application forms could be obtained through the local offices of the National Manpower Service who had the task of nominating suitable persons for competitive interview. To be eligible for consideration it was essential that candidates
(1) be not less than 21 years of age on 1 January 1986. In exceptional circumstances consideration could be given to persons aged between 18 and 21 years.
(2) be able to devote about 25 hours per week to Census work (including training) for a total of about 10 weeks during the period early March to end of May 1986. A considerable amount of evening work was required.
(3) have a good general education.
Furthermore to qualify for appointment in Gaeltacht areas fluency in Irish was required; while in rural areas a candidate should, if at all possible, have a full driving licence and the use of a suitable means of personal transport.
In making appointments, priority was given (subject to location constraints) to persons on UB/UA and to persons who, on the basis of information coming to light at interview, seemed to be in economic need although not on UB/UA; in both cases subject to being qualified at competitive interview.
Of the total of 3,221 enumerator posts, 1,123 posts are filled by persons on UB/UA and 494 by persons "in economic need"— a combined total of 1,617. An additional 312 persons on UB/UA and 56 persons "in economic need" who were offered posts either declined the offer of appointment or resigned having initially accepted the job offer.
Thus of the overall total of 3,554 serving field staff, 1,881 persons were on UB/UA or in "economic need" when appointed. In addition a further 430 persons on UB/UA or in "economic need" refused offers of appointment or resigned having initially accepted a job offer.
Would the Minister of State care to outline the basis on which people were selected to do the work in connection with the census?
The procedure used in recruiting the field staff was in accordance with the wishes of the Government as conveyed to the Central Statistics Office in minutes dated 28 May and 19 October 1985 from the Department of the Taoiseach. These procedures were as follows. First, following competitive interviews offers of appointment to the liaison officers and regional supervisor posts were to be strictly in accordance with the order of ranking on the basis of overall suitability. Second, following competitive shortlisting and interviews, appointment to field supervisor positions was to give absolute preference, subject to location constraints, to qualified applicants of UB/UA or to persons who appeared at the interview to be in economic need. Third, a permanent civil servant, ranked HEO or above would chair each interview board. Fourth, notice concerning the recruitment of enumerators would be placed in the newspapers in November 1985 inviting applications and informing people that enumerator positions would be filled by interviewing persons nominated by the National Manpower Service and preference would be accorded to the unemployed. The notice was to indicate specifically that no canvassing would be allowed for the enumerator posts.
(Interruptions.)
That seems a little odd coming from the other side of the House.
The Minister of State will——
Deputies should listen because this makes good reading. For the purpose of carrying out the 1986 census the State was divided into 3,221 enumeration areas and for each of these areas only one enumerator was appointed, even though there may have been two or more suitable persons available for appointment in any one area. In making these appointments absolute perference was given to persons on UB/UA and to persons in economic need, subject to their being deemed qualified at a competitive interview. Since the object of the census is to obtain a complete and accurate count of the population of each enumeration area, it is essential that the enumerators have a good knowledge of the area to which they are appointed. Persons appointed as enumerators, therefore, are generally residents of their own enumeration areas and thus are familiar with their localities — the names of streets, townlands and so on — and are aware of isolated and out of the way habitats.
Would the Minister agree that the main qualification essential for selection was that a person had the proper political credentials and that this was a major political fiddle?
I do not think that is worthy of reply. If the position was reversed and we were on the other side of the House, that might be the case but——
Whiter than white.
As long as we are here that will not be the position.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
Persil washes whiter.
Would the Minister agree that one of the important items of information which we hope will emerge from the taking of this census is the extent of the problem of marital breakdown in our society? Accordingly, could he give some indication of the Government's thinking in not awaiting that information——
That is a separate question.
——before bringing forward the legislation which is at present before the Dáil?
That is clearly a separate question. I am calling question No. 3.
Is that the line Fianna Fáil are taking?
The Minister stated that preference would be given to those on UB/UA, but how many people in existing employment were taken on for this work?
Working full time there were 85 males and 37 females, a total of 122.
How many of these are at present employed in the Civil Service?
I do not have that information available.
Would the Minister be prepared to get that information for me?
If it can be obtained, certainly.
Surely that information can be obtained?
If it is available, I will get it for the Deputy.
Arising out of the Minister's reply——
There are a number of Private Notice Questions down, there is a confined debate, and we should get on with the business.
Can the Minister explain how people got letters from Fine Gael Deputies informing them that they would be appointed to some of these positions even though they had never asked the Deputies to make representations on their behalf?
As the Deputy is aware, canvassing would disqualify. I do not know why Deputies wrote to their constituents. They may have had information——
The cards were marked.
(Interruptions.)
Obviously these Fine Gael Deputies are aware of what is happening in their constituencies.
The Minister's innocence betrays him.