Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2026
90. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the further work being done to cut the long delays in the higher executive officer recruitment panel, notwithstanding the extension of the expiration until 30 June 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15306/26]
View answer91. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he is aware that the current HBO recruitment panel appears to be moving at an average rate of just over one person per week, leaving a significant number of qualified candidates in limbo; if he is aware some people have been engaged in a recruitment process for nearly two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15307/26]
View answer92. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will consider extending the duration of the HEO panel, as is permitted with union agreement, to ensure those who have successfully interviewed are not penalised by administrative delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15308/26]
View answer93. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the measures being taken to accelerate the rate of appointments from the HEO panel, given the slow movement currently being observed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15309/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 91, 92 and 93 together.
The current Higher Executive Officer (HEO) competition was launched by the Public Appointments Service (publicjobs) on 9 May 2024, with the first panel established in mid-October 2024. 488 assignments have been made to date and further requests from Departments currently being processed.
Appointments are made strictly in order of merit and only as vacancies arise in the locations chosen by candidates. In some regions, all candidates on the panel have now been exhausted. Where candidates remain available, there are no operational delays in allocating them to vacancies. At present there is 46 candidates across 14 regional panels and 59 candidates on the Dublin panel, with a further five candidates in pre-employment checking.
Publicjobs operates a demand-led recruitment model, and the rate of movement on the panel reflects the volume of requests received from civil service employers. Publicjobs informs applicants from the outset that placement on a panel does not guarantee appointment, as vacancies may not arise in their preferred location.
The HEO competition and its associated panels have already been extended by more than seven months, to 30 June 2026. This will allow the competition to remain active for over two years, and no further extension is anticipated. Candidates who have been allocated to a request and have entered pre-employment checks before 30 June 2026 will be appointed once they successfully complete that stage.
