Organisation information
What we do
From Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA)
Published on
Last updated on
From Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA)
Published on
Last updated on
The role of the Commission is to ensure that appointments to publicly funded positions are fair, transparent and merit-based.
The Code of Practice sets out the key recruitment principles and standards for appointments. We have an oversight role in ensuring public bodies within our remit adhere to these standards when carrying out a selection process.
You can also request to review or appeal an appointment, if you believe it was unfair or wrong.
Our key responsibilities include:
The Commission is the regulator for appointments to positions in the civil and public service made under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004
In these cases, a public body must ensure its appointments are fair, transparent and merit-based and that they adhere to the Code of Practice.
The Commission oversees appointments to:
The Commission does not oversee appointments to:
If an appointment has to be made in line with the Act, a fair and merit-based selection process must be carried out. The selection process must:
You can find out if an appointment is subject to the Act by checking the public body’s governing legislation at www.irishstatutebook.ie.
If it says appointments are to be made under the Act (or that the employees are civil servants), then the appointments are subject to our Code of Practice and oversight.
If the public body was set up before 2004, the legislation may say appointments must be made in line with the Civil Service Commissioners Act 1956. These appointments are also subject to our Code and oversight.
In some cases, the legislation of a public body may specify that some appointments are subject to the Act, while others are not. Contact us if you are not sure.