FAS poised to appoint a director to fill post

The board of FAS is poised to appoint a senior civil servant at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment as its new director general.

Mr Rody Molloy, who is an assistant principal with responsibility for corporate services and economic policy at the Department, is believed likely to be appointed. He was chosen last Monday after four leading candidates emerged from interviews held on July 17th and 18th, it is understood.

In a statement, the State-owned jobs and training body said its board would meet next Thursday to ratify the interview panel's selection. The appointment will then be sanctioned by the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney.

The statement did not name Mr Molloy as the favoured candidate for the post, which commands a salary of about £85,000 with the possibility of a 15 per cent performance-related bonus.

But The Irish Times understands that he is likely to take up the appointment at the beginning of October after Dr John Lynch, leaves to take up the full-time position of executive chairman at CIE.

It is thought that the appointment will be the sole item on the agenda at the board meeting.

Given falling employment and tightening in the labour market, FAS's role has changed radically in recent years.

The authority, which had a budget last year of £527 million, is now concentrating on expanding the labour force by encouraging workers to return or move to the State. Mr Molloy's job will include responsibility for the development of FAS's training function and its apprentice programmes.