Public Service provides job opportunities for graduates – Fitzpatrick

Fine Gael TD for Louth, Peter Fitzpatrick, has urged graduates to consider a career in the public service. The Government has lifted the moratorium on public service recruitment in a targeted and focused way and is now providing opportunities for graduates and those at the early stages of their careers.

“At least 250 graduate positions are to be filled over the next two years. These include 50 graduates in the civil service, 15 specialist economists in the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) and 200 graduates in the wider public service.

“Recruitment for some of these positions has begun and details are available on www.publicjobs.ie. Closing dates for receipt of applications are 28^th October 2014 for the graduate economist competition, and 30^th October 2014 for the Public Service Graduate campaign.

“Public sector reform remains at the heart of this Government’s agenda and will focus on ensuring efficiency and improving outcomes for those who use public services. Public service staff numbers have been reduced by 10% since 2008.

“It is encouraging that public sector recruitment has begun by targeting graduates and young people and giving them opportunities to contribute to the future of the country, while providing them with stable employment. The Public Appointments Service is focused on securing the highest quality candidates for these positions and here in Louth, we have a ready supply of highly skilled graduates from DKIT. I would encourage anyone who is interested to consider this route as a career.

“In addition to opportunities for graduates, interviews for approximately 300 Clerical Officer roles, which will also be filled over the next two years, are currently underway. These Clerical Officers will be taking up positions in the Civil Service and Public Service across the country.

“The Government also prioritised the recruitment of frontline staff in last week’s budget, including 1,700 teachers and a further 200 Garda recruits who will enter training in the coming months. This is in addition to the 100 Garda new recruits who graduated earlier this year.

“It is vital that future public service recruitment is carried out on the basis of need and I welcome the fact that we have begun this process by targeting graduates and frontline staff. Of course, the reform agenda must continue, as this will allow us to continue to make savings and target those savings in areas where extra resources are needed.

“The public service is a commendable career choice and we are now once again giving that choice to our graduates and young people to allow them to stay at home and make their contribution to the country.