Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 4

Written Answers - Departmental Staff.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

256 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number, grade and professional-technical description of established positions in his Department; the number of such positions which are currently filled in an acting capacity; the number of such positions which are vacant; the number of such positions which are vacant for more than one year; the steps which are being taken by his Department to fill these vacant positions; if a Civil Service competition is required; if the existing panel can be utilised; when it is expected to fill these vacant positions; if the inability to maintain a full complement of established positions is delaying the implementation of the national development plan; if the existence of these vacancies has been reported to the committee of the Cabinet charged with overseeing the implementation of the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13047/01]

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

I understand that the Deputy is seeking information in relation to established professional-technical positions in my Department. The information sought is outlined in the following tables. Vacancies are being filled on an ongoing basis by a combination of internal promotion or open competition run through the Civil Service Commission or my Department. Where vacancies do exist, they do not constitute an impediment to the implementation of the national development plan.

Forensic Science Laboratory staffing as at 30 April 2001.

Grade	Number Serving	Number Vacant
Director	1	0
Deputy Director	1	0
Forensic Scientist Grade 1	4	1
Forensic Scientist Grade 2	12.5	0.5One acting post will be made substantive in the near future.
Forensic Scientist Grade 3	14	3
Senior Technician Class II	1	1
Senior Technician Class I	3.5	0.5Post has been vacant for more than one year.
Laboratory Technician	8.5	0.5

Land Registry staffing as at 30 April 2001.

Grade	Number Serving	Number Vacant
Chief Examiner of Titles	7	0
Examiner of Titles	9	0
Mapping Adviser	1	0
Chief Supt. of Mapping	6	0
Regional Mapping Director	11	0
Supt. of Mapping	24	1
Examiner in Charge	26	17 to be filled by internal promotion both from an existing panel and on the basis of seniority/suitability.
Examiner of Maps	49½	0
Mapping Draughtsperson	4	0

Probation and Welfare Service staffing as at 30 April 2001.

Grade	Number Serving	Number Vacant
Principal Probation and Welfare Officer	1	0
Assistant Principal Probation and Welfare Officer	9	1
Senior Probation and Welfare Officer	39	4
		One post filled in an acting capacity.
Probation and Welfare Officer		56½ – 50 temporary contract staff currently being recruited

Head Office.

Grade	Number Serving	Number Vacant
Solicitor in Equality Authority	1.5	1.5
Government Inspector of Explosives Grade I	1	0
Government Inspector of Explosives Grade II	1	0
State Pathologist	1	0
Deputy State Pathologist	1	0
Secretary Office of Charitable Donations and Bequests	1	0
Senior Laboratory Technician	1	0
Legal Adviser Office of the Director of Equality Investigations	1	0
Legal Adviser Equality Authority	1	0

Gárda Síochana Area.

Grade	Number Serving	Number Vacant
Head of Planning	0	1
Engineer Grade 11	0	1
Head of Research (P.O.)	1	0
Head of I.T. (P.O.)	1	0
Teachers	6	0
Chief Medical Officer (Civilian)	1	0

Prison Service.

Grade	Number Serving	Number Vacant
Psychologist Grade 1	1	0
Psychologist Grade 2	8.5	4
Pharmacist	1	0
Deputy Governor Work and Training	1	0
Assistant Governor Work and Training	1	0
Assistant Governor Industrial Training	1	0
Assistant Governor of Works	2	0
Inspector of Works	3	0
Chief Trades Officers 1	4	0
Chief Trades Officer 2	19	Being determined.
Clerk of Works	1	0
Industrial Training Instructors 2	14	4
Trades Officers	100	Being determined.
Nurse Officers*	52	Not finalised.
Director of Finance	1	0
Deputy Director of Finance	1	0
Director of Human Resources	0	1
Director of Prisons Medical Services	1	0
Co-ordinator of Work and Training	1	0
Co-ordinator of Education	1	0

*In relation to the Prisons Service, it is the intention to have nurses in all prisons-institutions in the future. However, the vacancies cannot be finalised pending the outcome of discussions with the staff side.