THERE WAS a significant increase in the number of complaints received by the Commission for Public Service Appointments last year from people who were dissatisfied with their experience in competing for posts in public sector organisations.
Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue, who is chairman of the commission, said that the rise in the number of complaints indicated "growing awareness among candidates of the commission's role and review procedures".
The annual report of the commission, which was launched yesterday, says that it received 20 formal complaints alleging breaches of its codes of practice.
The report says that among the breaches it had identified on foot of its investigations were: inconsistent and inequitable treatment of candidates in respect of assessment of language proficiency; an absence of records to support selection decisions; and an absence of clear, job-related criteria resulting in an unfair and inconsistent process.
In another incident there were undue delays in the conduct of an appointment process "with the reason for delay neither communicated to candidates nor recorded on file".
The report says that in other instances there was a failure to inform potential candidates about the existence of the codes of practice and review procedures as well as a lack of compliance with the codes' review procedures.
"In these cases the commission made appropriate recommendations to the relevant office-holder to address the shortcomings," it said.
The report did not spell out the particular bodies or organisations in which breaches of the codes of practice had been found.
The report also reveals that there were more than 107,000 applications for positions in the Civil Service, health sector, local authorities and An Garda Síochána last year.
A total of 7,441 appointments were made.
The report shows that there were 3,749 applications for positions in the Garda Reserve last year and that 271 appointments were made.
The report also says that there were nearly 29,000 applications received for positions in the Health Service Executive last year and that 2,679 appointments were made.
It says that 371 appointments were made in the category of "management" with nearly 1,000 nurses and 344 medical and dental personnel taken on.