2024 Assistant Principal in Civil Service

skidmarkoner

I heard this comp has been extended to March 2026, it was posted on reddit, has anybody got an update recently?

LouiseHarp

I've heard the HEO PAS competition was extended to March 2026. I don't believe anything has been confirmed for this AP one yet.

gemi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123890734#Comment_123890734

When I emailed on Monday, they were up to about OOM 11 or so for pre clearance on Batch 1.4. It does seem to be moving much slower than previous batch alright.

doncarlos

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123892634#Comment_123892634

There is 15ish left on open on Batch 1.4, Interdept are cleared.

thesecondbestpriest

If the competition does end December 12th but you have your OOM on a panel, can you still be brought forward to clearance and appointed to a role after that date i.e. into next year?

I'm in batch 1.1 for a regional county panel and we just received our OOM this week following interviews over the past two weeks.

Juniper14

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123894413#Comment_123894413

The language they used was that they "don't envision any appointments being made from this competition" after the deadline.

I would take that to mean the panels expire at the deadline as well as interview eligibility.

But they can do whatever they want realistically, i assume they can extend either the competition or the panels if they feel it's needed.

At the moment they seem to be saying there's no plans to extend.

thesecondbestpriest

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123895169#Comment_123895169

Interesting @Juniper14 thanks for your insights ! Unfortunate if so as I was hoping it would mean the existing panels would remain in place and be utilised until after a new competition is launched and new panels were officially formed

Bumblebuzz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123895255#Comment_123895255

this is almost always the case with PAS. They wont be without a panel. I would expect that if your on a panel you will get a job.

Juniper14

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123895255#Comment_123895255

I'm currently waiting on a panel too so totally agree it would be ideal for them to extend! Seems pretty sensible too rather than losing people they've already picked as suitable. Fingers crossed! 🤞

Jsherlock1

What is the average amount of time it has taken for people to go into clearance after results?

bren2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123905359#Comment_123905359

There is no meaningful average. There are just too many factors.

If you're #1 on the OOM, you're likely going into clearance almost immediately. I know of people who received the results and started clearance immediately. If you're #20 in the OOM, you're going to be waiting a while. Averaging these two situations provides no meaningful insight.

It's also highly dependent on the number of jobs available at the time and if the batch ahead is cleared already etc.

If you're through and on a panel, I'd be expecting to start January 2026. It's the most logical date at this point.

_SpringOnion_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123905359#Comment_123905359

I agree with Bren2001. All depends, also in terms of how long things take afterwards. I was OOM3, results back in August and had my clearance started the same day as the results. But then my application was stuck with the vetting for a very long time, then there were some delays in terms of the specific allocation (department assigned straight away but things got delayed again) so in the end I am starting in November. So it will be 2.5 months between the results and the start date, even though I had a good result. I think it also depends if you are coming from the civil service or from outside. I am currently public sector and from reading this conversations I guess that it is faster if you come from the civil service already. Hope this helps.

madds

is there anyone who has either started as an AP in a particular dept or else has visibility of where newly appointed APs have been inserted? Just trying to get a feel for the placements that have happened to date.

I got called to interview today, so getting ahead of myself a little. Long way to go.

Bumblebuzz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123908781#Comment_123908781

DECC or climate as they are better known took on a good few. I know housing did too. Best of luck in interview.

dory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123908781#Comment_123908781

I know people who've started in almost all of the depts. Tbh it wouldn't help you figure it out as if, say, Housing has taken 10, then it might be someone else's turn now. It's fairly random. I know of a few who've been matched with their background/skills etc. so if you're in finance you might go to Revenue for example.

mol_89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123914673#Comment_123914673

Interesting to hear that some have been matched on experience. My placement felt quite random but I’m just glad to be at the end of this long recruitment process. Out of interest does anyone know how PAS actually allocates candidates to vacancies?

shardor18

They appoint next person on the panel to the next vacancy on file. They don't match people by skills so if anyone was appointed to somewhere matching their skills it is coincidental unless they were tagged by current employer and they managed to match a vacancy to candidates place on panel.

_SpringOnion_

The allocation to a department was random in my case. Then I was assigned to a specific place within the department also randomly, and it was not matching my skills at all. Then the HR tried to find a vacancy in something related to my education and experience, but they did not have any vacancies at the AP level for that. So I was placed back on the original assignment. However, at that stage it was taking ages - and it turned out that they tried to find a suitable position for me and it seems like they did their best as the job seems to be at least partially related to what I have been doing for the past few years.

Anyway, I think you can move after two years with the mobility, to another department. Not sure if it is possible to move earlier within the same department, anybody has any experience or knowledge of any of that happening after the probation period?

Jsherlock1

For those who have already been assigned, im just curious if any of the departments offer flexitime at the AP grade (in terms of working hours rather than accrual of leave/hours). I know some APs have it to an extent where I am but just curious about whether its offered in other departments at AP level

doncarlos

Have heard that some people might be taken from panel with certain skills or experience should a department specifically request it but it's rare. Bit of a pain for people who's education and career are in one steam but that's the risk with generalist competitions.

romajune01

AP grade does not have the option of FlexiTime.

skidmarkoner

Any update on Wexford?

Buttynic

Currently sitting on a regional panel (post interview) waiting for it to move. Been advised that there are no vacancies in the location at present. Getting worried as the closing date of the 12th of December is fast approaching. Just wondering if anyone has heard of a possible extension of the panel ? There appears to be no plan to run a new AP PAS competition this side of Christmas so am hoping they will continue to pull off the Sept 2024 panel into the foreseeable future.

skidmarkoner

I feel your pain and whats worse is they called a few to interview and I'm 1 oom away from being called. Heart breaking right now if they don't extend

Jsherlock1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123928584#Comment_123928584

Im in the same boat. PAShavr told me im next for clearance but they currently have no vacancies logged for my location. Just keeping my fingers crossed for movement over the coming weeks

skidmarkoner

Heres hoping something happens for both of us within the next month

Rascalcook

Emailed PAS today, one appointment on the open panel in the last two weeks, so still 13 on batch four and whatever place you're in in 1.5

No movement on the interdepartmental, and no vacancies logged with them at the moment. So I guess we wait now and hope there's a push for bringing people on in January when hiring budgets refresh.

CocoD

I wonder is this something to be concerned about? I have a decent OOM for batch 1.5 and have not heard anything. I thought it was normal to commence pre employment checks almost immediately if you were high in the OOM. Has anyone heard anything else?

nmcg67

PAS have stated to me that The Open stream for batch 1.5 has 25 candidates, and the Interdepartmental stream has 21.