Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 February 2005
99 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department will be recruiting staff in 2005 for the general diplomatic service or related agencies; if the development section will be developed with such recruitment as was recommended by the development review group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2758/05]
View answerA new open competition for the position of third secretary, the recruitment grade for the diplomatic service, was advertised in the national media at the end of last week, with a closing date for applications of 10 February. Applicants must have a first or second class honours degree in any discipline.
Staffing levels in the development co-operation directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs have increased steadily over the past few years to the current level of 115 core staff at headquarters or on assignment to one of our development missions abroad. The Department also employs technical, specialist and project staff on contract, at headquarters and in the field. Since the Ireland Aid review in 2002, the staffing complement has increased by 30 posts. In that regard, the most recent OECD Development Assistance Committee, DAC, peer review of Development Co-operation Ireland published in 2003 acknowledged the significant improvement in staff numbers and skills-mix, as well as increased movement between headquarters and the field, since its previous review in 1999.
The Department will establish a presence in Sierra Leone this year, which will give greater coherence and planning capacity to Irish development efforts in that country and in Liberia. In addition, the Government recently approved plans to open an embassy in Vietnam later this year, which will strengthen Ireland's development presence in Asia.
The staffing of the development programme will continue to be kept under review as the programme expands, bearing in mind the parameters of the relevant Government decisions in relation to public service staffing and in the light of the decentralisation of the development co-operation directorate to Limerick scheduled for the first quarter of 2007. There are no agencies under the aegis of the Department.
