Written Answers - Departmental Staff.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
139
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for Public Enterprise
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 are 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.
[13039/01]
The following tables one to three, inclusive, display the number and grade of established positions of general service grades and technical-professional grades in my Department, the Geological Survey of Ireland and Met Éireann respectively as of 31 March 2001.
A total of 124 posts were being filled in an acting capacity. Acting capacity is defined as staff promoted within 12 months of 31 March 2001 and had not yet completed their first year in that grade. There are 38 staff in this position, 17 staff were in receipt of a higher duty allowance and 67 staff had yet to complete their two year probationary period.
As of 31 March 2001, there were 68 vacancies in my Department. No position has been vacant for more than one year.
All recruitment to general Civil Service grades is conducted centrally by the Civil Service Commission. My Department is in the process of filling the above vacancies either through internal processes or from existing CSC panels. Indications are that the number of vacancies will be significantly reduced in the near future.
With regard to the filling of professional-technical positions, these are also handled by the CSC but on foot of specific requests from my Department. We are currently in the process of filling such positions.
While high levels of vacancies are a concern, my officials have prioritised business objectives to minimise adverse impact on the implementation of the aspects of the national development plan for which my Department is responsible. Consequently, vacancies have not been reported to the committee of the Cabinet charged with overseeing the implementation of the NDP.
The high level of vacancies currently being experienced reflects the prevailing labour market conditions in the economy as a whole.
Table 1
Established Positions in the Core Department as of 31 March 2001
|
Grade
|
Number
|
|
Secretary General
|
1
|
|
Assistant Secretary
|
6
|
|
Principal Officers
|
16
|
|
Assistant Principal Higher Duty Allowance
|
4
|
|
Assistant Principal Officers
|
41.5
|
|
Higher Executive Officers/AOs on Higher Duty Allowances
|
11
|
|
Administrative Officers
|
11
|
|
Higher Executive Officers
|
65.5
|
|
Executive Officers on Higher Duty Allowance
|
2
|
|
Executive Officers
|
80.5
|
|
Staff Officers
|
9
|
|
Transport Officers
|
10
|
|
Clerical Officers
|
108
|
|
Ministerial Staff
|
5
|
|
Services Officers
|
14
|
|
Telephonists
|
3
|
|
Senior Economist
|
1
|
|
Chief Railway Inspecting Officer
|
1
|
|
Railway Inspecting Officer
|
2
|
|
Chief Aeronautical Officer
|
1
|
|
Aeronautical Officer Grade I
|
2
|
|
Aeronautical Officer Grade II
|
1
|
|
Chief Technical Adviser
|
1
|
|
Director of Comms, Business and Technology
|
1
|
|
Ass Director of Comms, Business and Technology
|
1
|
|
Technical Assistant
|
1
|
|
Staff Engineer
|
4
|
|
Assistant Staff Engineer
|
3
|
|
Executive Engineer
|
3
|
|
Engineering Executive
|
1
|
|
Total
|
410.5
|
Table 2
Established Positions in the Geological Survey of Ireland as of 31 March 2001
|
Grade
|
Number
|
|
Director
|
1
|
|
Assistant Director
|
1
|
|
Principal Geologist
|
2
|
|
Acting Principal Geologist
|
1
|
|
Senior Geologist
|
9
|
|
Acting Senior Geologist
|
1
|
|
Geologist
|
6
|
|
Chief Superintendent
|
1
|
|
Acting Chief Superintendent
|
1
|
|
Superintendent
|
3
|
|
Asst. Superintendent
|
3.5
|
|
Cartographer
|
2
|
|
Chief Technologist
|
1
|
|
Senior Laboratory Technician II
|
3
|
|
Driller
|
2
|
|
Principal Officer
|
.5
|
|
Higher Executive Officer
|
3
|
|
Executive Officer
|
0
|
|
Staff Officer
|
2
|
|
Clerical Officer
|
8.5
|
|
Services Officer
|
2
|
|
Total
|
53.5
|
Table 3
Established Positions in MET Éireann as of 31 March 2001
|
Grade
|
NumberServing
|
|
Director
|
1
|
|
Assistant Director
|
2
|
|
Senior Meteorologist
|
8
|
|
Meteorologist
|
37
|
|
Principal Meteorological Officer
|
9
|
|
Senior Meteorological Officer
|
55
|
|
Meteorological Officer
|
101.5
|
|
Librarian
|
1
|
|
Staff Officer
|
1
|
|
Clerical Officer (includes former CA andPK grades)
|
12.5
|
|
Telephonist
|
1 (2 x ½)
|
|
Services Officer
|
1
|
|
Services Attendant
|
1
|
|
General Operative
|
2
|
|
Cleaner
|
2
|
|
Part-time Cleaner-General Operative
|
14
|
|
Total
|
249
|
The following tables show the actual breakdown of vacancies by grade which existed throughout the Department and its various agencies as of 31 March 2001:
Vacancies in MET Éireann 31 March 2001
|
Grade
|
Number
|
|
Meteorologist
|
1
|
|
Senior Meteorological Officer
|
5
|
|
Meterological Officers
|
7
|
|
Clerical Officer
|
2
|
|
Part time cleaner/ GeneralOperative
|
4
|
Vacancies in the Core Department 31 March 2001
|
Grade
|
Number
|
|
AP
|
3.5*
|
|
HEO/AO
|
19.5*
|
|
EO/SO
|
16**
|
|
Transport Officer
|
1
|
|
CO
|
4.5*
|
* 1 job-sharer
** Two job-sharers
Vacancies in the GSI as of 31 March 2001
|
Grade
|
Number
|
|
Technician
|
1
|
|
HEO
|
.5*
|
|
Acting Superintendent
|
1
|
|
Geologist
|
2
|
* job sharer
Number of positions filled in an acting capacity as of 31 March 2001.
|
Principal Officer
|
4
|
|
Assistant Principal
|
13
|
|
AP on hda*
|
4
|
|
HEO/AO on hda
|
11
|
|
HEO
|
17
|
|
AO
|
4
|
|
EO hda
|
2
|
|
Senior Meteorological Officers
|
2
|
*hda: higher duty allowance
All others are staff who were promoted within the previous 12 months of 31 March 2001 and had not yet completed one year in that grade.
Number of People on Probation as of 31 March 2001
