Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 January 2010
660 Deputy George Lee asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Civil Service staff in his Department; the number of these staff who hold an economics degree; the number of these staff who hold a postgraduate economics degree; the number of these staff who hold a PhD in economics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48315/09]
View answerThe current number of staff employed in my Department is 1276. This number includes work-sharing staff, but excludes approximately 300 members of locally-engaged staff working in Irish Missions abroad.
Accurate information about the specific academic backgrounds of each individual staff member of my Department is not readily available. As the Deputy will be aware, recruitment into the Civil Service is carried out centrally by the Public Appointments Service. Diplomatic officers are recruited into my Department at Third Secretary level, and a first or second-class honours degree in any discipline is a basic requirement for entry. The specific disciplines are not always identified in personnel records. The same is true for general service officers holding degrees.
