Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 5

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Noel Ahern

Question:

112 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of appointments of manual grade operatives, for example, service officers, attendants, cleaners or other general category of this nature in his Department, or agencies under his Department's direct control, during the past four years; the number who applied for these positions; the number interviewed for each position; the salary levels for these jobs; his views on the number, experience and quality of these applicants; and whether the keen competition for these posts indicates that there is no shortage of available workers in the economy. [26570/99]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

In relation to my Department the information sought by the Deputy applies to a large number of offices under its aegis including the Courts Service, Prisons Service, Land Registry and the Garda area.

In the time available it has not been possible to compile the information requested. However, the available information will be communicated to the Deputy in the near future.

Noel Ahern

Question:

113 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the number of manual grade operatives, for example, service officers, attendants, cleaners or other general category of this nature appointed in his Department, or agencies under his Department's direct control, during the past four years; the number who applied for these positions; the number interviewed for each position; the salary levels for these jobs; his views on the number, experience and quality of these applicants; and whether the keen competition for these posts indicates that there is no shortage of available workers in the economy. [26571/99]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

My Department currently employs two services officers. These are the only manual grade operatives employed by the Department. Most manual type services for the Department are provided, under a sharing arrangement, by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with which my Department shares premises. The two services officers who are employed by my Department were assigned by the Department of Finance from the central Civil Service redeployment pool. To date, the Department has not, therefore, been involved in the direct recruitment and selection of services officers.

The Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation was established in July 1997. The Department of Tourism and Trade, which existed prior to July 1997, did not employ any manual grade operatives as all such services were provided under a sharing arrangement by the then Department of Enterprise and Employment.