I propose to take Questions Nos. 610 and 611 together. In respect of internal promotion competitions for the grades identified by the Deputy the following table provides the relevant details:
|
Promotion to Principal Officer
|
Promotion to Assistant Principal Officer
|
Promotion to Higher Executive Officer
|
Promotion to Executive Officer
|
Promotion to Staff Officer
|
Competition last advertised
|
19 May 2010
|
26 October 2010
|
21 May 2010
|
12 August 2010
|
12 August 2010
|
Number of Applications received
|
74
|
123
|
59
|
450
|
430
|
Number placed on panels
|
16
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
21
|
Number appointed to date
|
5
|
3
|
1
|
None
|
None
|
Costs incurred
|
€4,170.00
|
€2,229.80
|
€243.80
|
€12,238.
|
10 total cost for SO/EO competition
|
The costs set out above relate to payments to external interview board members, refreshments for interview boards and in relation to the Staff Officer/Executive Officer competitions the Department's contribution to Public Appointments Service costs.
As the Deputy will be aware in March 2009 the Government introduced a moratorium on the filling of vacancies in the public service, either by way of recruitment or promotion. Normally sanction is not received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to run internal competitions, however sanction has to be obtained to effect any promotions. I am advised the necessary sanctions to make the above promotions were obtained.
In respect of the five competitions held above no complaints arose in respect of four of them, three complaints were made in respect of the promotion to Assistant Principal Officer competition.
It is not envisaged that any internal promotion competitions will be held any sooner that 30 June 2013 as the present panels for all grades are in place until then.