Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The approved staff complement for my Department is 493 posts and the number of vacancies for each Civil Service grade within the approved complement is as follows:

Grade	Number of Vacancies
A.P.	11.5
H.E.O.	15.0
E.O.	17.5
C.O.	34.5
C.O./Typist	3.0
Total	81.5

As the Deputy is aware, the recruitment of civil servants is a matter for the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission which is experiencing the same difficulty as most other recruitment agencies and employers in attracting and retaining staff in the current economic climate. My Department participated in the Civil Service recruitment fair in the Spring of this year, which was very successfully organised by the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission. Officers of my Department also assist in the recruitment process by participating as members of interview boards, when requested to do so by the Commission. I can assure Deputy Upton that my Department makes every effort to encourage and retain staff by offering a wide range of employment incentives, including challenging assignments, career progression on the basis of competitive interview, flexible working hours in the form of job-sharing, parental leave, term-time, etc., refund of fees and grant of study leave in respect of third level studies. My Department's personnel unit will continue to work closely with the commission in making every effort possible to secure the filling of the above listed vacancies.

Questions Nos. 146 and 147 taken with No. 130.