Charles Flanagan
Ceist:151 Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of promotional posts that have been created in each of the past five years and to date in 2008. [36464/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 22 October 2008
Ceisteanna (152)
Freagraí scríofa
At the outset, I should say that my Department does not create promotion posts per se. Rather, it manages the staffing of the Department (and its Agencies) in accordance with Government policy, including in relation to the filling of posts. The manner of the filling of posts is not straightforward and can vary depending on factors such as: how the vacancy arose; the nature of the post and where it is located; and the availability of staff. Posts are filled from a number of sources, including lateral transfers within the Department, surplus staff arising from decentralisation, secondment of staff from outside the Department, as well as internal and inter-departmental promotion competitions, and external recruitment. In relation to the latter, it is worth noting that posts up to and including the most senior levels in the Civil Service can now be filled through open competition, so that posts that would previously have been classified as promotion posts can now be filled by new recruits.
In the circumstances, it is not possible to distinguish promotion posts from other posts in a manner that is meaningful.