Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 1

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

John Perry

Question:

163 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the plans, if any, she has to appoint additional employees in the planning section in Dúchas; the plans, if any, she has to make permanent the staff who are employed on temporary contract in view of the fact that their contracts are under renewal every three months; the number of times such contracts can be renewed before a person is made permanent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23841/99]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

A number of staffing issues concerning this section of Dúchas, the heri tage service of my Department including the issue of persons engaged on temporary contracts for service, are currently under discussion within the normal Civil Service industrial relations framework and I would not like to make any statement on the matter that might prejudice the outcome of these discussions. Accordingly, until these outstanding issues are resolved it is not possible to address the question of employing additional staff. As an interim measure many contracts are being renewed on a three-monthly basis. The legal position is that those engaged on a contract for service are not employees and consequently have no claim to permanent status.