Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 November 2016
107. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to revise the terms of employment for temporary clerical officers in the Civil Service in order to secure better pay and conditions; his plans to introduce a measure whereby clerical officers in the Civil Service who are on a temporary contract for three years or more will automatically be made permanent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33211/16]
View answerIn my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for recruitment to the Civil Service.
All such recruitment is governed by the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. Under the Act, the method of appointment to a permanent Civil and Public Service post is as a result of being successful in a competition run by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) or by another licence holder such as the head of a Department or Office. Selection processes are open to all eligible applicants who meet minimum entry criteria.
In the main, vacancies in the Civil service are filled on a permanent basis. However, temporary vacancies arise from time to time to cover such absences as maternity leave or shorter working year, and where a permanent vacancy will not exist. Temporary Clerical Officer (TCO) positions in the Civil Service are filled by an annual competition conducted by the PAS which is usually advertised in February of each year.
It is a matter for Human Resource Units in all Departments and Agencies to have procedures in place for dealing with the recruitment and employment of fixed-term employees and the management of their contracts. My Department issues Guidelines on "Best Practice for the Recruitment and Management of Fixed-term Employees in the Irish Civil Service". These are revised from time to time as required. The most recent version issued in April 2014 and took account of changes arising as result of the Single Pension Scheme and the Haddington Road Agreement. The Guidelines can be found on my Department's HR Management website http://hr.per.gov.ie/.
Temporary officers in the civil service are entitled to the same pay and pension rights and can apply for internal promotion competitions while in a temporary position if they satisfy the qualifying criteria in each case.
