asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development the number of persons at present working in his Department, of the rank of Higher Executive Officer and upwards who were on 5 July 1977, (a) employed in the planning sections of the Department of Finance; (b) employed elsewhere within the Civil Service and capable of transfer to those sections; (c) employed in other branches of the public service and capable of secondment to those sections; and (d) not employed in the public service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Departmental Staff.
19.
There are 61 persons of the rank of Higher Executive Officer and upwards at present working in my Department who were, on 5 July 1977 employed as follows: (a) in the Economic Policy Division of the Department of Finance, 36; (b) elsewhere within the Civil Service and capable of transfer to sections at (a) through the normal Civil Service channels, 23; (c) in other branches of the public service and capable of secondment to sections at (a), Nil; (d) not employed in the public service, 2.
May the House take it that from the point of view of personnel in the Minister's Department, except for his own distinguished appointment, the total inflow of new brain is two, from outside the civil service?
Yes. I am sure the Deputy is aware that it takes quite a long time to go through the process of recruiting from outside the civil service.
I am trying to establish——
(Interruptions.)
I wish the Chair would be as fair to that side as he is to this side.
I am trying to establish the personnel situation in the Minister's new Department. Will the Minister agree that apart from himself the net number of new brains in the Department is two, recruited from outside the civil service.
I am not quite sure what the Deputy has in mind. A question in relation to the staffing of my Department was asked, which I answered. If the Deputy is interested in the relationship between the brains within the civil service and the brains available outside, the Deputy should table that question and I will answer it. In addition to permanent full-time appointments, I engage advisers and consultants from time to time. To that extent I have access to whatever outside advice I need.
Would that not have been the case of the Minister's predecessor, the Minister for Finance? Did not he too retain the services of outside advisers?
That is a separate question.
Is it not the case that the Minister is essentially presiding over the planning sections of the Department of Finance?
No, that does not follow.
Question No. 20.
It seems to follow, from the figures.
That is not the question of numbers, it is the question of how they are used and the tasks to which they are assigned.
Question No. 20.