The number of middle management posts covers the grades of administrative officer, higher executive officer, assistant principal and principal officer. The scheme in existence for filling vacancies in these grades within the civil service is an interdepartmental competition using a one in three ratio. Under this scheme, every third vacancy falling to be filled is referred to the Civil Service Commissioners to be filled from the Civil Service-wide interdepartmental competitions. The other two vacancies are filled from within the Department. A candidate who is successful in an interdepartmental competition may fill a vacancy in his or her own department.
In addition, all new principal officer posts are filled from the interdepartmental panel and also those posts that arise as a consequence of the former occupant of the post taking up appointment at assistant secretary level or higher in a department other than his/her parent department.
Table 1 sets out the position regarding the number of middle management posts in the civil service which have been filled by candidates in these interdepartmental competitions. No vacancies have been filled by candidates outside the civil service in the grades of higher executive officer, HEO, assistant principal, AP and principal officer, PO.
Table 1: Number of posts filled from interdepartmental competitions at HEO, AP and PO level
Year
|
HEO
|
AP
|
PO
|
1999
|
95
|
142
|
0
|
2000
|
200
|
85
|
41
|
2001
|
172
|
172
|
40
|
2002
|
194
|
135
|
7
|
2003
|
82
|
39
|
5
|
Total:
|
743
|
573
|
93
|
In the case of administrative officer positions, all vacancies arising have been filled by means of open competition until 2003 when vacancies were filled by both open and interdepartmental means — see table 2.
Table 2: Number of posts at administrative officer level which were filled from open and confined competitions
Year
|
Administrative Officer — Open
|
Administrative Officer — Confined
|
1999
|
52
|
|
2000
|
95
|
|
2001
|
125
|
|
2002
|
55
|
|
2003
|
15
|
9
|
Total:
|
342
|
9
|
In keeping with the commitment to open recruitment as outlined in Sustaining Progress, open competitions at both higher executive officer and assistant principal level were advertised in 2003 and the selection process was completed at end of year. To date, no appointments have been made from either of these competitions.