A total of 32 applicants were interviewed for seasonal posts as guides- information officers at Kilkenny Castle on 13 February 2001. Some 17 applicants were successful from these interviews. In early April my Department had insufficient guides available to handle tours at the castle but, none of the persons on the panel were available to start work. A further application for seasonal work was handed in by an individual to Kilkenny Castle on 3 April 2001. This person was interviewed on 10 April 2001 and was placed on the successful panel. She was available to start work immediately and commenced employment on 11 April 2001.
The advertisements for seasonal guides-information officers at Kilkenny Castle were placed in the Kilkenny People on 10 November 2000. In addition, further advertisements for seasonal guides-information officers nation-wide were placed in the Irish Independent on 9 November 2000; the Irish Times on 10 November 2000 and in the Sunday Independent on 12 November 2000. FÁS was notified and asked to carry posters in each FÁS office nationwide. Formal internal notice was not given as the posts concerned were offered on a seasonal basis only.
The standard procedure referred to in Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 6 December 2000 was not relevant in this case as that procedure refers to the employment of permanent guides only.
