Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
555. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if it is permissible for a civil servant to enter into a secondment arrangement of greater than five years; the circumstances under which this may be permissible; the processes which must be followed in the event of a secondment of beyond five years in duration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19936/22]
View answer556. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a secondment of indefinite duration or otherwise without a specific term is permissible for civil servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19937/22]
View answer557. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a secondment may occur to an unadvertised position created in conjunction with the secondee; the relevant provisions within the current civil service rules which apply to a secondment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19964/22]
View answer558. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the circulars and other documents which set out the current extent of active civil service secondment policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19966/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 555, 556, 557 and 558 together.
The Secondment Policy, and associated Guidelines and FAQs, published by my Department last year formalised an approach to secondments within the Civil Service, recognising that a number of administrative arrangements had evolved across the Civil Service over time.
A copy of the Civil Service Secondment Policy Circular Letter and the Guidance and FAQs are available at hr.per.gov.ie/en/corporate-pages/career/mobility/secondment/#article-section-policy-guidance-and-faqs-for-civil-service-organisations.
The Secondment Policy and associated terms were designed to complement the Civil Service Mobility scheme (which is for permanent moves between Civil Service organisations) in that it enables the filling of positions concurrent with a strategic project/placement that require specialist knowledge and skillset for a defined period of time. There is no mobility scheme in place across the Public Service.
Secondments provide staff members with opportunities to broaden their skills and continue their professional and personal development while retaining the right to return to their substantive post at the end of the secondment. It provides staff with opportunities to broaden their skills and continue their professional and personal development while retaining the right to return to their substantive or equivalent position in the sending organisation at the end of the secondment. It also provides an opportunity for the receiving organisation to fill a temporary position with both the receiving and sending organisations benefitting from shared learning, good practice, new ideas and experience.
Secondments between Civil Service organisations require sanction from my Department to fill a position through secondment prior to advertisement through the Public Appointments Service. However Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) which support the Secondment Policy - see link above - set out exceptions to this sanction approval requirement. These typically include specialist skill placements or existing arrangements in place between organisations or within a sector (e.g. AGO, CSO, IGEES, CSSO, C&AG, various EU programmes, diplomatic missions abroad, arrangements between a parent department and a non-civil service body within its sector).
This Secondment Policy also provides that the same principles and guidance may be applied to secondment arrangements between a parent Department and a non-civil service body within its sector.
It is not a requirement for Public Service bodies, as distinct from Civil Service organisations, to seek sanction from my Department to fill a position through secondment. This is a matter between the Public Service body and its parent Department.
