asked the Minister for Social Welfare the extent to which senior promotion posts in his Department are open to service-wide competition irrespective of grade; the number of posts filled by persons from outside his Department since the matter was opened up; if he will give details of each promotion post in his Department which is not open to service-wide competition; and the reason for the restriction in each case.
Written Answers. - Promotion Posts.
536.
For the purposes of the reply the reference to senior promotion posts in the Department has been taken as a reference to the grades of assistant principal and upwards and equivalent departmental grades. All promotions to such posts have been made from within the Department. There have however been negotiations between the Department of the Public Service and the staff interests concerned with a view to opening up certain higher posts in the civil service generally to service-wide competition. The Minister for the Public Service hopes that these proposals can be brought into operation at an early date.