Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 May 1993

Vol. 430 No. 3

Written Answers. - Gender Imbalance in Local Authority Posts.

Liz McManus

Question:

112 Ms McManus asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the imbalance in the numbers of men and women employed in senior posts in local authorities, he intends to take positive action to deal with the imbalance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. M. Smith)

Senior positions in local authorities are filled by open competition conducted by the Local Appointments Commission. The Commission is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and this is clearly stated in each advertisement.

Local authorities are also committed to a policy of equal opportunity which is contained in a Statement of Equal Opportunity issued to all local authorities in February 1990 by the Local Government Staff Negotiations Board. The statement was drawn up following negotiations involving local authority and health board management and unions and the Departments of the Environment and Health. It covers matters such as recruitment, selection, training and development.

At the request of the Local Authorities Training Committee, on which my Department is represented, the Institute of Public Administration have undertaken a survey, which is not yet finalised, of female local authority staff in middle management grades to establish their views on selection and promotion procedures in the local authority service and their training and development needs. This survey will provide a valuable input in the development of any necessary further measures by local authorities to facilitate the career development of women.

A network of senior local authority officers has been established to facilitate implementation of equal opportunity policy.