asked the Minister for the Public Service in respect of the recent advertisement for trades officer in the Prison Service, if he will state: (a) the number of applications he received; (b) the number who have been or will be called for interview; (c) the way in which those people are selected; and (d) if he will make a copy of the application available to the Dáil.
Written Answers. - Prison Service Recruitment.
20.
Six separate competitions for appointments as electrician, carpenter, plumber, fitter-welder, bricklayer-mason and plasterer (official title trades officer) in the Prison Service were advertised by the Civil Service Commissioners in January 1986.
There were 1,139 applications for the competitions. A total of 204 applicants are being called for interview. It was necessary to shortlist candidates for interview because of the large number of applications.
Shortlisting was undertaken in accordance with the following provision of the statutory regulations:
The Commissioners, at their discretion, may request the interview Board to examine the applications of all the candidates in the context of the duties of the position to be filled and of the prescribed qualifications and, having considered the report of the Board, may decide that a number only of the candidates shall be invited to attend before the Board for interview".
Documentation relating to the competitions is available from the Civil Service Commission. I will arrange to send a copy of the application form and of the statutory regulations to the Deputy and to any other Deputy who wants them.