Eamon Ryan
Question:56 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the situation regarding the appointment of a key economic advisor in his Department. [25581/02]
Vol. 559 No. 1
56 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the situation regarding the appointment of a key economic advisor in his Department. [25581/02]
It may be helpful to the Deputy to set out the position in the Department.
The number of people with third level qualifications in economics on the permanent staff of my Deparment currently stands at around 70. There are 20 people with a qualification in economics serving in the economic section of our budget and economic division, of whom ten have qualifications at masters level, or above.
My Department recruits large numbers of administrative officers each year through the Civil Service Commission. Administrative officers must have a first or second class degree. Where possible, administrative officers with economic qualifications are targeted by my Department. For example, a specific competition for administrative officers with economic qualifications is run by the Civil Service Commission each year.