I have employed two retired public servants as Civilian Drivers (each at a cost to the Department of €36,499 per annum). These appointments were made following selection interviews from a shortlist of candidates who had submitted unsolicited applications to my Office. In addition in my Department there is one re-appointed former Assistant Principal post sanctioned by the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform. This is in connection with Departmental issues associated with Ireland’s Presidency of the EU. The reappointment is for the period 25/10/12 – 31/7/13 and is at the first point on the Assistant Principal pay scale of €61,966 per annum (pro rata). The total cost to my Department for the period of the reappointment is €51,856.69.
The above appointments were made on the basis of the relevant salary for the posts, with abatement as appropriate of public sector pensions in payment. More generally, recruitment to my Department is undertaken by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) through competitions advertised in the public press save where, exceptionally, a business need exists to re-engage an individual with specialised skills, and sanction must be obtained in such cases from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, as in the case with the Assistant Principal post referred to above.
