Departmental Staff

Tuesday, 18 November 2025

Questions (1171)

George Lawlor

Question:

1171. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of vacancies which arose at principal officer level for the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025 in his Department and agencies under the aegis of his Department; the number of these vacancies filled between internal and external methods; the number of vacancies each year at principal officer level filled by mobility; the number of internal competitions for principal officer grade run by his Department since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63026/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Please note that our department does not hold complete records of staff vacancies for the period 2022–2023, as the HR function was shared with the Department of Education during that time.

The information in respect of state bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with this query.

-		Recruitment Pathway	Recruitment Pathway
Year	Total Vacancies	Mobility	Secondment
2024	7	1	1
2025	10*	3	1

- 5 PO Vacancies for 2024 were carried into 2025

- Following the completion of the Department’s first Internal Promotion to Principal Officer Competition in November 2025, 5 staff members will be appointed to PO by end of November 2025.

PQanswer