Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 5

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Noel Ahern

Question:

67 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of manual grade operatives, for example, service officers, attendants, cleaners or other general category of this nature appointed in her Department, or agencies under her 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; her 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. [26559/99]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

The only grade among these categories for which there is direct recruitment in my Department is the grade of cleaner. The grades of services attendant and services officer are filled internally through promotion as vacancies arise.

Total number appointed to the grade of cleaner in the past four years	8
Total number of applications received	66
Total number deemed suitable and placed on panels	38

Salaries

Cleaner	£171.62–£215.85
Services Attendant	£171.62–£256.16
Services Officer	£171.62–£259.57

Applicants for position of cleaner must be registered with FÁS and many are also registered with the National Rehabilitation Board. In the past there were many applications but in recent times it has been extremely difficult to attract suitable people to these positions. Following interviews held in September 1999, six people who were placed on a panel for cleaners turned down the offer of employment. Based on this direct experience, there is at present a shortage of suitable workers willing to take up these jobs.

The staffing of the agencies under the aegis of my Department is a day-to-day internal matter for them and not one in which I have a direct function.

Noel Ahern

Question:

68 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources 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. [26560/99]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

A head services officer was appointed in the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources during the past four years. The officer in question was recruited through a competition run by the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission. The salary scale for the grade rises from £261.82 to £ 328.72 per week.

No other permanent appointments have been made in the Department. There have been a limited number of occasions, when it was necessary to recruit staff on temporary or part-time basis to carry out manual grade work.

My Department is currently in the process of recruiting a services attendant. The salary scale for the grade of services attendant increases from £171.62, under 19, to £256.16, after six years at the maximum of the scale, per week. There has been significant interest in this position, and of the 21 applicants for the position, 14 were called for interview. The qualifications and experience of applicants was deemed to be of a high standard, and it is anticipated that the successful candidate will be appointed shortly.

Recruitment in the agencies under the control of the Department is a matter for the agencies themselves.

Noel Ahern

Question:

69 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs 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. [26561/99]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

Staff at the grades mentioned in the Deputy's question are recruited directly by the Department by means of competitive interview. In the past four years, competitions were held for service officers and cleaners in June 1996 and a competition for night watchman was held in September 1998.

There were 25 applications for the service officer competition and 21 of the 23 candidates called for interview attended. All seven candidates placed on the panel were offered appointment, three refused the offer and four were appointed. Prior to the establishment of this panel, three candidates from the previous competition held in September 1994 were offered appointment and one accepted. The pay scale for this grade ranges from £171.62 for officers under the age of 19 to a maximum of £259.57 per week.

The Department received 25 applications for the competition for cleaners and 12 of the 13 called for interview attended. Of the six candidates placed on the panel, five refused full-time positions and one took up a temporary position. Prior to the establishment of this panel, three candidates from the previous competition held in September 1995 were offered and accepted appointments. The pay scale for this grade ranges from £171.62 for employees under the age of 19 to a maximum of £215.85 per week.

With regard to the night watchman competition, 37 of the 43 applicants were offered an interview. Of these, seven did not attend for interview, 16 were placed on the panel from which the three available positions were filled. The pay scale for these employees ranges from £193.70 to £240.22 per week.

I am satisfied that the competition process ensured that only applicants with appropriate abilities were selected for inclusion on these panels. The Department's experience of recruiting staff at these grades is that there has been a reasonable level of response to the competitions.

Noel Ahern

Question:

70 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the number of manual grade operatives, for example, service officers, attendants, cleaners or other general category of this nature appointed in her Department, or agencies under her 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; her 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. [26562/99]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

My Department has held two competitions during the past four years, both for the post of services officer. A list of proposed candidates was drawn up from representations made by individuals and public representatives. It is also my Department's policy to contact the National Rehabilitation Board and FÁS for nominations.

One hundred and thirty-eight individuals were contacted in regard to these competitions. Seventy-two candidates submitted their names for interview and 30 were deemed suitable. The current buoyant labour market has resulted in an average take up rate of three out of ten among those offered a position following interviews.

The current salary scale for services officer is:

£171.62 (under 19) £179.51 (at 19) £210.00, £217.90, £223.54, £259.57.

£193.08 (at 20 or over) £202.10, £230.31, £241.95, £250.16

I have been informed that the people interviewed had a wide and diverse range of skills and that the standard was very good.