Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 4

Written Answers - Departmental Staff.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

103 Mr. Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number, grade and professional-technical description of established positions in her 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 have been vacant for more than one year; the steps which are being taken by her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [13036/01]

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

There are 988 staff serving in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the vast majority of whom are established officers. Staff employed by the Department in an unestablished capacity include cleaners, service attendants and executive officers on contract.

The grades represented in the Department are as follows: secretary general, assistant secretary general, principal officer, assistant principal officer, accountant, economist, solicitor, legal adviser, industrial inspector, auditor, administrative officer, higher executive officer, executive officer, staff officer, clerical officer, telephonist, service officer, service attendant and cleaner.

The Department currently has 69 vacancies, none of which have been vacant for more than one year. Vacant positions are not filled by persons in an acting capacity.

The Department runs regular internal promotion competitions to fill vacancies. In addition, the Department is in regular contact with the Civil Service Commission regarding recruitment issues and to ensure that vacancies are filled as soon as possible. The Civil Service Commission recruits through open competitions and has established panels for all grades from which assignments are made to each Government Department. Twenty-five assignments have been made to the Department by the Civil Service Commission and these are expected to take up duty in the next few weeks. None of the vacancies in the Department is impacting on the implementation of the national development plan.

In line with other Departments, the Department offers flexible work arrangements such as parental leave, career breaks, job-sharing, term-time and flexible working hours to members of staff. The Department also established a work options unit on 1 March 2001 to promote other family friendly initiatives which will be coming on stream in the coming months. The provision of ongoing staff training and development together with educational support are central to enhancing the skills and competencies of staff. These initiatives are core elements in attracting and retaining staff in the Civil Service.