asked the Minister for Health the increased costs to the Exchequer in 1980, by comparison with the year 1977, attributable to the growth of numbers employed in the health boards.
Written Answers. - Health Board Staff.
151.
The cost involved for the Exchequer for the year 1980 as a result of the growth in the number of personnel employed by health boards since end 1977 is estimated at £15.5 million. This figure relates to the remuneration in 1980 of the extra staff employed since the end of 1977, mainly in connection with the commissioning of new units of accommodation.
152.
asked the Minister for Health if he considers the Departmental regulation which restricts the number of applicants being called for interview seeking employment with health boards to those applicants who have sat the leaving certificate examination and who received a certain level of marks to be fair and in the best interest of all applicants in Ireland.
153.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that a student who was awarded a certificate in business studies was informed by the North Western Health Board that his application for a position as clerical officer could not be accepted because his leaving certificate results were not sufficiently high for him to be called for interview; and bearing in mind that the student has progressed exceptionally well in the three years in which he attended the Regional Technical College, if he considers it proper or justified that the leaving certificate rule should apply in all cases; and, if not, the steps he proposes to take to correct the position.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 153 together.
With a view to ensuring that candidates have attained a certain standard of education, the qualifications prescribed for the recruitment grade of clerical officer in the health board service require candidates to have obtained at least Grade D, or a Pass, in at least five subjects in the leaving certificate examination or have passed an examination of equivalent standard. The qualifications directed for the assistant staff officer grade require honours leaving certificate standard. The leaving certificate has not been prescribed for other posts under health boards.
In accordance with directions given under section 14 of the Health Act, 1970, chief executive officers of health boards in arranging for the selection of a candidate or candidates to be appointed or of the candidates to be placed in order of merit on a panel shall do so by means of a selection procedure appropriate to the appointment being made. In relation to the selection of candidates for clerical officer posts the selection procedure used by the North Western Health Board is that candidates who obtain a certain standard in the leaving certificate, or equivalent, examination are called for interview and a panel is formed based on the results of the interview board. This selection procedure is similar to that used by the other health boards. I understand that the North Western Health Board received a very large number of applications in a competition they are now holding for the appointment of clerical officers. Results obtained in examinations other than the leaving certificate, or equivalent, would of course be taken into account at the interview stage. I have had inquiries made with the North Western Health Board regarding a competition currently in progress for the appointment of clerical officers under that board. I am informed that the board did receive an application from a person holding the higher national diploma certificate in business studies awarded by the Ulster Polytechnic in Armagh and that this candidate has been called for interview. I understand also that the health board received an application from a student pursuing a course in business studies but he was not called for interview based on his examination results.
I am satisfied that the selection procedures used by the health boards in selecting candidates for posts such as clerical officer, which are aimed mainly at school-leavers are appropriate and I have no proposals to change the existing arrangements.