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Public Sector Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018

Tuesday, 20 March 2018

Ceisteanna (715)

Martin Heydon

Ceist:

715. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the delays that are occurring in recruitment and placement of technical agricultural officers in the eastern region; the reasons for such delays; the steps being taken to address this issue in order that the industry is not restricted in its daily activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12394/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The competition for the role of Technical Agricultural Officer is being administered by the Public Appointments Service on behalf my Department. The competition was advertised in April 2016. Following an initial assessment involving remote testing of all candidates, the first batch of 150 candidates were called to verification testing and interview. 70 successful candidates emerged from this process and to date approximately 40 candidates have been appointed from that round.

A second round of testing and interviews was conducted in 2017 from which a further batch of 70 candidates became available. Of these, approximately 31 candidates have been appointed. The process of appointing candidates from rounds 1 and 2 continues and a number of additional candidates are currently undergoing final checks before appointment.

A third and final round is in progress, involving approximately 125 candidates.

As part of the selection process, candidates were asked to select three counties in order of preference in which they would be willing to serve. It is inevitable that some of the remaining candidates have selected locations that have already been filled by other candidates and may be unwilling to take up appointments that involve greater commuting distances.

Some of the counties in the eastern region did not attract high levels of interest from candidates or candidates who selected those counties were unsuccessful in the assessment process. A number of candidates withdrew from the competition at various stages.

A significant number of candidates have now been appointed or are in process of being appointed. It is anticipated that the ongoing round 3 of the competition will make available a further group of candidates who will take up appointments in the locations remaining to be filled.

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