The Public Service Temporary Assignment Scheme is a whole-of-Government approach to tackling shortages of staff in key areas. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issued a circular (instrument in administrative law) which allows for thousands of staff to be temporarily assigned from anywhere in the public service to areas requiring manpower (e.g. contact tracing, unemployment supports, business support schemes etc.) The Public Appointments Service has built a digital platform to manage the process.

Understaffing of key areas that require immediate resourcing (e.g. in health services, contact tracing, business supports, unemployment benefits etc)

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; Public Appointments Service

Exact skills matching may need to be further tweaked; issues may arise as nominated staff for assignment become unwell etc.