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Departmental Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020

Tuesday, 15 September 2020

Questions (482, 483, 484, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

482. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of eligible staff who can apply for the higher executive officer competition in her Department. [23450/20]

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Claire Kerrane

Question:

483. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff who applied for the promotion to higher executive officer in her Department. [23451/20]

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Claire Kerrane

Question:

484. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff by grade (details supplied) who applied for the competition for promotion to HEO. [23452/20]

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Claire Kerrane

Question:

485. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of HEO vacancies in her Department; and the locations and business units the vacancies are in. [23453/20]

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Claire Kerrane

Question:

486. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of members of staff it takes to run the competition for higher executive officer. [23454/20]

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Claire Kerrane

Question:

487. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of running the competition for higher executive officer. [23455/20]

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Claire Kerrane

Question:

488. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection when interviews will take place after the application date closes for the promotion to higher executive officer. [23456/20]

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Claire Kerrane

Question:

489. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons on the interview panel for higher executive officer; if interviews will be done by video link or in person for the position; and if the interviewers will be internal staff or external. [23457/20]

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Claire Kerrane

Question:

490. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the age range (details supplied) of applicants for the position of higher executive officer; and the number of applicants under each age range. [23458/20]

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Claire Kerrane

Question:

491. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of working days' notice candidates will be given of their interview date for the higher executive officer competition. [23459/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 to 491, inclusive, together.

An internal competition for promotion to Higher Executive Officer was advertised on June 22nd 2020 with a closing date of July 10th 2020. 3,865 staff were eligible to apply for the competition broken down as follows: 

Grade

-

Clerical Officer

2370

Executive Officer

1369

Services Officer

126

Grand Total

3865

A total of 827 applications were received by the closing date, broken down as follows:

Grade

Count of applications

AO

2

CO

307

EO

518

There are currently 91 HEO posts that have been approved for filling in the following locations and business areas:

COUNTY

Total

Business Areas

CARLOW

1

South East Region

CLARE

2

Mid-West Region

DONEGAL

1

North West Region

DUBLIN

62

Communications Unit; Digital Adoption Team; Disability Policy; Dublin Central Region; Dublin North Region; Engagement & Innovation; Estimates Unit; IS Services; Low Pay Commission; Regional Services Unit; Staff Development Unit; Special Investigations Unit

GALWAY

8

Business Analytics Unit; West Region

KERRY

2

Mid-West Region

KILDARE

2

Dublin North Region

KILKENNY

1

South East Region

LOUTH

2

North East Region

MAYO

1

West Region

MEATH

1

North East Region

SLIGO

4

IS Services; Illness Benefits; SWA Policy; North West Region

WESTMEATH

1

Midlands Region

WICKLOW

3

Dublin Central Region

Grand Total

91

-

The HR core competitions team has been supplemented by additional staff drawn from other areas of the HR Division to assist at different stages of the competition and the assignment of a small number of temporary staff for the duration of the competition.

It is estimated that the costs of running the competition will be in the region of €150,000, which is largely made up of the estimated costs of interview board members' time / salary costs and the estimated salary costs of staff involved in running the competition.

The preliminary interview boards are made up of one Principal Officer and one Assistant Principal Officer, some of whom are recently retired members of staff.  There is one serving member of staff on each board.  The final interview boards will be made up of one Principal Officer and two Assistant Principal Officers.  All interviews will be conducted over video link using Webex.  However, in a small number of cases where a candidate has special requirements (e.g. sign language interpreter), the interviews may be conducted on a face to face basis.

The following table reflects the breakdown of the applications in the requested age brackets:

Age bracket

Count of applications

18-25

5

26-35

119

36-45

291

45-55

301

56-65

110

Over 65

1

Grand Total

827

Preliminary Interviews have commenced and are expected to be completed by the end of October.  Final interviews will be scheduled shortly thereafter. Candidates are being given five working days’ notice of their interview date.

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