asked the Minister for Local Government what is the explanation for the serious shortage of engineering and planning staff in Dublin city and county; and if he has any plans to overcome this shortage.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Engineering and Planning Staff.
26.
The information at my disposal would indicate that there is not a serious shortage of engineering staff in the offices of Dublin Corporation or Dublin County Council. A number of newly created posts and others which have become vacant recently due to retirements or resignations are at present the subject of competitions being held by the Local Appointments Commission. These competitions are expected to result in appointments to the vacant posts.
Difficulty has been experienced in the recruitment by local authorities of qualified planning staffs. This has been due to a severe shortage of persons possessing recognised planning qualifications. Measures for overcoming this problem have already been taken and further measures are being examined in my Department. I have recently declared new qualifications for a number of planning offices which will enable professional people with adequate knowledge and experience of planning to compete for appointment. Competitions on the basis of the new qualifications are being arranged by the Local Appointments Commission and I expect them to result in the making of appointments to many of the posts that are now vacant.
I should like to know where the Minister got his information. No later than last night the City and County Manager told the county council that there were at least 47 unfilled vacancies and that repeated efforts to fill these vacancies have failed. Is it not a fact that the salaries are too low and is it not also a fact that the Minister has refused to sanction the recent arbitrator's award?
The arbitrator's award has not been refused. It has been deferred.
A rose by any other name....
What is the difference?
There is a difference.
Is it not a fact that repeated efforts to fill these vacancies have failed and that work in the Dublin area is delayed to a considerable extent because of this?
There has been a difficulty regarding the recruitment of qualified planning staffs. The qualifications have now been revised and a competition will be held shortly on the basis of the new qualifications.