Almost 60 temporary clerical officers working in the children and family agency Tusla are being transferred onto permanent contracts as part of a stabilisation programme negotiated by Fórsa.

The offers are subject to a number of conditions, including being directly employed as a grade III clerical officer in Tusla. Staff also have to have demonstrated the required experience, skills and competencies for the job, and be currently occupying a vacant grade III permanent post. 

This success comes off the back of a union agreement which saw 450 agency staff moved onto fixed-term contracts last November. That deal covered about two-thirds of existing agency staff in Tusla, including social work, social care, family support and administrative grades.

The union has secured commitments that existing panels will not be affected.

Tusla has also committed to stricter controls on the future use of agency staff, which Fórsa official Chris Cully welcomed.

“The use of agency staff should be the exception rather than the rule. Underpinning job security is one of our key priorities so we’re glad that Tusla will now limit its precarious employment practices in future,” she said.