Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2493. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to transfer staff awaiting a position in Sligo to the social welfare services office to reduce the dependency on temporary staff; her further plans to fill all vacancies across social welfare services offices with permanent staff prior to the implementation of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33376/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no formal arrangements in place within the Department to facilitate requests for transfers to other locations except in the case of the Clerical Officer grade. Transfers between locations of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection are managed in accordance with protocols agreed between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the relevant staff unions. The traditional method of filling posts is a mixture of recruitment and promotion in accordance with the formal sequences as determined centrally. In instances where there has been nobody available from the recruitment / promotion panels for a particular location we have considered the transfer lists at Executive Officer and Higher Executive Officer grades.
The Civil Service Renewal Plan contains an action to introduce formal mobility arrangements for all grades. Work is on-going at the moment to introduce the new arrangements for the CO & EO grades. The introduction of these new arrangements will introduce changes in how posts are to be filled. While the majority of posts will continue to be filled by recruitment and promotion, mobility - transfer will become part of the sequences to be followed when filling vacancies.
Temporary clerical staff are recruited to provide cover for permanent staff who are absent on maternity leave, long term sick leave, shorter working year scheme and other statutory leave. They are also recruited to clear backlogs and to assist in the roll-out of the Public Services Card project.
These temporary staff are appointed on a fixed-term or fixed purpose contract basis, neither of which carries entitlement to permanency. Once the purpose for which the person is recruited no longer exists the contract is terminated.
