The table sets out the number of posts in my Department that were vacant on 1 October 2009 and had previously been filled by officers at the grade indicated.
Grade
|
Number of vacancies on1 October 2009
|
Assistant Secretary and equivalent
|
4
|
Principal Officer, Counsellor and equivalent
|
6
|
Professional Grades
|
2
|
Assistant Principal, First Secretary and equivalent
|
11
|
Higher Executive Officer, Third Secretary and equivalent
|
4
|
Executive Officer and equivalent
|
6
|
Staff Officer and equivalent
|
1
|
Clerical Officer and equivalent
|
15.5
|
Cleaners
|
2
|
Total
|
51.5
|
The average duration of these vacancies, up to 1 October 2009, is six months.
Two applications were made for derogations from the public service recruitment and promotions moratorium. One related to a specialised post in the ICT Unit of the Department, a unit which is central to its business needs. The application is currently being considered by the Department of Finance. The other related to the recruitment of additional staff for the Passport Office during the peak season and was partially approved.
My Department is also exploring, with the Department of Finance, the possibility of recruiting a limited number of Third Secretaries from the panel formed as a result of the 2008 open competition run by the Public Appointments Service.