asked the Minister for the Public Service the number of the 1,000 temporary clerical trainees who are being taken on this year who will be offered permanent employment; the method of selection being used to select those who will be retained; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Depending on their performance during training, the 1987 intake of temporary clerical trainees will be given the opportunity of entering a confined competition for a limited number of permanent positions as clerical assistants in the Civil Service at the end of their traineeship. The number of positions that will be filled from the competition is not known at this stage.

The corresponding competition this year consists of a written examination and a departmental assessment and the circular announcing the competition indicated that 100 permanent jobs would be filled from it.

I understand from the Minister that of the 1,000 taken on last year, 100 will be retained in permanent posts. Is that correct?

Of the 1,000 taken on last year, over 150 during the course of their traineeship left the scheme to take up full time employment. In addition, we have announced a confined competition for the remainder. The circular announcing that competition indicated there would be 100 permanent jobs to be competed for.

I take it the Minister is saying yes. Presumably when the circular says there will be 100 jobs, there will be 100 jobs. My question is with regard to the method of selection used to select those who will be retained. Can the Minister give us further information on the departmental assessment which will be used to select the 100 people?

Fifty per cent of the total marks in the confined competition to select trainees will be awarded on the basis of departmental assessment. The assessment, obviously, is related to their interest in the job, their ability, their performance and the other factors which would be relevant in assessing somebody's performance in the job.

A Cheann Comhairle——

I must take the Defence question, Deputy, at 3 o'clock.

With regard to the departmental assessment, were specific instructions given to the departmental heads as to how they were to carry out this assessment?

In relation to staff assessments generally there are criteria which have to be followed by the different Departments.

Would it be possible to let me have a copy of the criteria?

These criteria would be internal Civil Service matters.

It is not possible.