Civil Service

Thursday, 16 July 2026

Questions (284)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

284. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the policy basis on which a civil servant may be denied access to the Civil Service Grievance Procedure where the complaint relates to the withdrawal of an assignment after a selection process has concluded and an offer of that assignment has already been made (details supplied); whether the exclusion relating to grievances concerning selection processes was intended to apply to decisions taken after the completion of a selection process; whether his Department has issued any guidance to Departments and Offices on the application of this exclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54336/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

The Grievance Procedure, Circular 11/2001 is a formal process, agreed by General Council under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for the Civil Service, which seeks to deal in a fair, prompt and impartial manner with complaints by individual members of staff that are within the scope of the procedure but are not appropriate for discussion under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme. Circular 11/2001 also provides that certain matters fall outside the scope of the procedure, including selection for promotion and assignment to certain posts.

My department has responsibility for Civil Service HR policy. However, the application of the Grievance Procedure in individual cases is a matter for the relevant Department or Office. This includes deciding whether a particular complaint falls within the scope of the procedure, having regard to Circular 11/2001 and the circumstances of the case.