asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the practice being operated by local authorities which disbars applicants for posts, when they have obtained their leaving certificate over two or more years; the reasons for such practice in view of the fact that the primary criterion for acceptance to a post should be suitability at the time of application and the fact that the practice automatically disbars those who due to financial or domestic circumstances, are unable to sit for all subjects in any one year; if this practice will not be dropped; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Suitability for Local Authority Posts.
29.
I assume the question relates to the local authority posts of clerical officer and library assistant. The prescribed regulations under which local authorities make appointments to these offices provide that, where candidates are selected on the basis of the results obtained by them in the leaving certificate examination, the leaving certificate subjects, on the basis of which points are attributable to candidates for the purpose of placing them on panels for these offices, must have been taken in the same year. The purpose of this is to ensure a fair system of competition between eligible candidates. I might add that an overall review of the selection procedures for these offices is being carried out by my Department.