asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether, in view of the considerable amount of work involved in the operation of the Social Welfare Act, he will now consider appointing those members of the temporary staff serving at employment exchanges who qualified in the confined examination held in December, 1950, and whether he will give an assurance that no further staff will be appointed until those temporary clerks above referred to have been absorbed into the Department as permanent officers.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Staff.
The question of extending the list of successful candidates from the competitive examination for posts as clerical officer held in 1950 and confined to temporary clerks serving at employment exchanges is at present under consideration.
It is not possible to give any such assurance as that requested by the Deputy as the Department must be free to recruit suitable staff from the various open competitive examinations conducted by the Civil Service Commissioners.
Is it not a fact the answer now given is in complete contrast with the statement made by the Minister when introducing his Estimate last year? On that occasion he said that these successful temporary candidates would be the first to be employed.
We have the matter under consideration. The Deputy must bear in mind that the permanent civil servant is shifted about from one place to another. The difficulty with those who sat for this examination is that they want to be left in the place where they are at present employed. That is not possible in the Department of Social Welfare. I can assure the Deputy that we have the matter under sympathetic consideration.
Surely it is not suggested that these people who sat for the examination would receive permanent employment in the exchanges in which they are temporarily engaged? They are not concerned about where they are employed. All they want is permanent employment. Make them permanent members of the staff. That is all I ask.
Will they go anywhere they are sent?
Certainly.