Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 November 2015
91. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures he has in place to improve the representation of women in higher civil service grades above assistant principal officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41099/15]
View answerThe Civil Service Renewal Plan recognises the clear need to continue to increase female participation at senior levels in the Civil Service. To this end, the Renewal Plan contains a commitment to improve gender balance at each level by reviewing supports and policies to ensure these are impactful and measurable. This work has commenced and is now a key project under the Plan.
In addition, earlier this year, the Department of Justice and Equality, with the assistance of funding from the EU's PROGRESS programme and supported by my Department, undertook a pilot mentoring and leadership development programme to increase the number of women in the top decision-making levels of the Civil Service. The pilot was cross-Departmental with female Principal Officers from each of the 16 Government Departments participating in the programme. The participants received executive coaching, mentoring and leadership development training which is focused at the competencies required at the Assistant Secretary General grade.
My Department will support the mainstreaming of this programme more widely across Departments and Offices in conjunction with a renewed Learning and Development model for the Civil Service which is currently being developed. The programme will be complementary to a new approach to developing future leaders at senior levels in the Civil Service which is currently being developed under the Renewal Plan.
At the end of Quarter 3 2015, the following table provides the gender breakdown of officers at AP level and above in the Civil Service:
|
Grade |
Male |
% |
Female |
% |
|
Secretary General |
24 |
80 |
6 |
20 |
|
Second Secretary |
3 |
75 |
1 |
25 |
|
Deputy Secretary |
15 |
79 |
4 |
21 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
151 |
69 |
68 |
31 |
|
Principal |
801 |
63 |
468 |
37 |
|
Assistant Principal |
1916 |
54 |
1612 |
46 |
