Local Authorities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022

Tuesday, 8 February 2022

Questions (297)

Noel Grealish

Question:

297. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the required qualifications for executive engineering positions within local authorities given that item 3a (details supplied) specifies candidates shall hold an honours degree level 8 in the National Framework of Qualifications in engineering; if he considers a BSc in Civil Engineering to be an appropriate qualification given that an organisation has stated that it recognises the qualification as an accredited level 8 engineering qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5894/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Under Section 160 of the Local Government Act 2001, the appropriate Minister may declare qualifications of such classes and descriptions as he or she thinks fit for a specified employment under a local authority, or for such of the employments as belong to a specified class, description or grade.

The declared qualifications for the post of Executive Engineer specify that a candidate must hold an honours degree (level 8 in the National Framework of Qualifications) in Engineering insofar as the particular educational requirement criterion is concerned only.

A candidate who holds a BSc honours degree in Engineering would be deemed eligible under the educational requirement criterion for a local authority engineering post.