Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 2

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

John McGuinness

Question:

425 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 233 of 18 May 2001, she will say the way in which she can justify the employment of a person within 24 hours and still maintain that Dúchas followed due procedure; and the reason a guide with two years' experience was informed on 19 April 2001 by the personnel section of Dúchas that the list of guides for 2001 was full and no vacancy existed. [23861/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

The position is exactly as outlined in the reply which I gave to Parliamentary Question No. 233 of 18 May 2001. By 11 April 2001 the seasonal vacancies for guide-information officers at Kilkenny Castle were filled. The panel established as a result of the competition the previous February was utilised to fill subsequent seasonal vacancies in Kilkenny.

John McGuinness

Question:

426 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason standard procedure in employing staff is not applied to seasonal guides; the way in which this category of employee is treated differently; the reason for this differentiation; and the extent to which this position is in accordance with her Department's equality policy. [23862/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

Standard procedures are utilised in employing both permanent and seasonal guide staff at my Department's visitor centres throughout the country. Season guides are recruited following public advertisement and competitive interview. Permanent guides are recruited by advertisement of vacancies to seasonal guides as these posts represent an advancement for existing staff. These procedures do not in any way conflict with Government equality policy.