Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 July 2014
191. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the anticipated cost to the Exchequer per annum of ceasing the practice of outsourcing and reliance on temporary contract work at the Clerical Officer grade. [30294/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to exploring alternative service delivery models, including external delivery, as part of an overall objective to improve the quality and efficiency of public services, while ensuring they remain affordable and sustainable. Each public body, when deciding whether to use external service delivery, is expected to produce a detailed business case. This will involve evaluating the merits of such a decision, taking into account a number of factors, including overall cost, quality of service, effectiveness and the public interest.
Temporary Clerical Officer (TCO) recruitment for the Civil Service is typically run each year to facilitate the filling of short term vacancies/absences. This enables managers to fill critical posts delivering essential public services on a temporary basis without conflicting with Government policy on reducing overall Civil Service numbers. The type of vacancies filled include cover for family-friendly initiatives, such as the shorter working year scheme and to address seasonal peaks in demand.
Given that any decision to use external service delivery or to recruit TCOs is undertaken on a case by case basis, the details of the costs/benefits incurred or realised will be dependent on the service and public body in question.
