Access Officer

BACKGROUND

Dublin is an international capital city and is the economic engine of the region and the State. Dublin City Council has a unique and critical role in local government: it is the largest local authority in Ireland, with 63 Elected Members representing and serving 588,000 people in the city area. It plays a pivotal role in the provision of services to the almost 1.5 million people in the Dublin Region, and in ensuring that the city can welcome and support a large number of visitors daily for employment, business, recreation, and tourism.

Dublin City Council takes the lead role in shaping the strategic vision of Dublin as a dynamic and sustainable city and seeks to continually enhance the city’s attractiveness as a place in which to invest, to work, to live, and to visit.

With an annual expenditure of almost €1.8 billion (revenue and capital) and a workforce of 6,200 (FTEs), the City Council provides a diverse, multi-layered, and evolving range of services and infrastructure to both citizens and visitors to Dublin that sustain the life of the city. These services include the provision of housing, planning, development, economic, environmental, roads and traffic, fire and emergency, leisure, cultural, and community services. Many of these services, including traffic, drainage, and fire and emergency services, are provided on a regional basis for the Greater Dublin Area.

The continuing development and renewal of the city’s infrastructure, urban fabric, and facilities, in conjunction with other public authorities, is a key feature of the Council’s role and an essential support to the national economy. The Council has a critical role in supporting the economic growth and development of the city, its cultural and recreational life, and makes a major investment in social inclusion and community development through a wide range of housing, community, and area-based services. The Council is increasingly exploring new and innovative ways to tackle city challenges, particularly as they relate to climate and sustainability, and to deliver services while meeting citizens’ changing expectations, achieving efficiencies, and continuing to meet the demand for increased accountability.

THE JOB

The Access Officer is a key strategic role within Dublin City Council, responsible for advancing accessibility, inclusion, and equality across all Council services and public-facing activities. This position underpins the Council’s commitment to creating a city that works for everyone, including disabled people, neurodiverse individuals, older persons, and others who experience access barriers.

The Access Officer will work across departments and with external stakeholders to embed accessibility into policy, service design, infrastructure, digital platforms, and public engagement. The role is central to Dublin’s ambition to lead the way in building an inclusive and accessible urban environment, promoting accessible public events, and equitable housing provision.

The role supports the implementation of relevant legislation, particularly the Disability Act 2005, the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2015, and the Public Sector Duty under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. It also aligns with Ireland’s commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025–2030.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate for the role of Access Officer will be a strategic, empathetic, and solutions-focused professional with a strong understanding of accessibility and inclusion in the public sector. They will demonstrate:

• A clear understanding of the diverse needs of people who experience access barriers, including disabled people, neurodiverse individuals, older persons, and others.

• A strong working knowledge of relevant legislation, particularly the Disability Act 2005, the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2015, and the Public Sector Duty under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014.

• Familiarity with international frameworks such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the EU Disability Strategy 2021–2030, and the ability to apply these in a local government context.

• Familiarity with the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025–2030, and an understanding of its relevance to local authority service delivery and planning.

• Experience working with Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs) or other advocacy groups, ensuring that lived experience informs policy, service design, and accessibility improvements.

• A good understanding of the structure, functions, and responsibilities of local government in Ireland, and experience working within or alongside public sector organisations.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively across departments and with external stakeholders.

• Proven ability to deliver training, conduct access audits, and contribute to policy development and service improvement.

• A commitment to universal design, equality, and human rights.

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate legislation and policy into practical outcomes.

• A collaborative mindset and the ability to work constructively with others to achieve shared goals.

QUALIFICATIONS

Character: Each candidate shall be of good character.

Health: Candidates shall be in a state of health that indicates a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Education, Training, Experience, etc.:

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed applications:

(a) (i) Have obtained at least a Grade D (or Pass), in Higher or Ordinary Level, in five subjects (or four subjects if Irish is included) from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education Established Leaving Certificate Examination or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, including Irish and/or English, and one of the following: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation, or Economics, and

(ii) Have obtained at least Grade C (or Honours) in higher level (or Honours) papers in three subjects in that examination (or two subjects if Irish and/or one of the following is included: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation, or Economics),

or

(b) Have obtained a comparable standard in an equivalent examination, or

(c) Hold a third-level qualification of at least degree standard, and

(d) Have satisfactory experience in administrative procedures, including adequate practical experience in work of an executive nature, office organisation, and control of staff.

Desirable:

A postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline is desirable. Areas of study may include Disability Studies, Equality and Human Rights, Inclusive or Universal Design, Architecture or Engineering with an accessibility focus, Public or Social Policy, Community Development, or Health and Social Care with relevance to disability services. Such qualifications should reflect a strong academic foundation in the principles of accessibility, inclusion, and the legal and policy frameworks that support the rights of disabled people.

Candidates are required to upload documentation for the qualification with their online application. Non-Irish qualifications must be accompanied by a determination/comparability statement from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and a translation if necessary. Candidates who do not submit required documentation by closing date will be deemed to have an incomplete application.

DUTIES

The duties of the post include, but are not limited to:

• Provide Accessibility Support: Provide, arrange, and coordinate assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities in accessing Dublin City Council services, facilities, and information.

• Ensure Legislative Compliance: Support compliance with statutory obligations under disability and equality legislation, including the Disability Act 2005 and Equal Status Acts.

• Maintain Accessibility Policies: Regularly review and update internal accessibility policies and procedures to reflect legislative changes, best practice, and evolving service needs.

• Custodian of Knowledge Base: Maintain the knowledge base ensuring information is accurate, accessible, and updated.

• Promote Organisational Awareness: Promote awareness of accessibility and inclusion across all departments and staff levels.

• Communicate Progress and Impact: Ensure the Council’s progress in addressing the access and service needs of disabled people is communicated internally, within the community, and more broadly.

• Support Disability Equality Training: Assist in the development and delivery of training for staff.

• Conduct Access Audits: Carry out or arrange access audits of Council buildings, services, and events, advising on improvements in line with best practice and legal requirements.

• Contribute to Strategic Programmes: Support programmes that advance accessibility and inclusion, including the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025–2030 and the DPO Consultation Framework.

• Coordinate with DPOs: Sustain engagement with Disabled Persons’ Organisations (DPOs) and advocacy groups, ensuring inclusive and representative consultation.

• Support Accessibility Champions: Identify and support staff to act as accessibility champions, embedding inclusive practices throughout the organisation.

• Promote Accessibility Leadership: Encourage accessibility leadership by supporting internal networks, mentoring champions, and contributing to a culture of inclusion.

• Other Duties: Undertake other duties appropriate to the role as assigned. Duties may vary over time, reporting to the Chief Executive or designated Officer.

SELECTION PROCESS

• The post will be filled through a public competition conducted by or on behalf of Dublin City Council.

• Eligibility and shortlisting will be based on information supplied in the application form and assessment questions.

• A panel may be formed from which appointments will be made. Panel life is one year.

• Appointees may be required to take up the position within one month unless extended by the Council.

• Successful candidates may undergo pre-employment medical and reference checks.

Shortlisting: Candidates may be shortlisted based on their application forms and responses to assessment questions, reflecting skills and experience essential for the role.

Interview: Competency-based interviews will assess:

• Management and Change

• Delivering Results

• Performance through People

• Personal Effectiveness

• Local Authority Knowledge & Experience

SALARY

€60,611; €62,095; €63,826; €65,563; €67,300; €68,852; €70,442; €71,982; €73,518 (Maximum); €76,149 (1st LSI after 3 years satisfactory service on Maximum); €78,795 (2nd LSI after 3 years satisfactory service on 1st LSI). Entry point determined by Departmental Circulars. Rate may be adjusted in line with Government policy. Working hours are 35 hours per week.

PARTICULARS OF POSITION

(a) Permanent, whole-time, and pensionable.

(b) Dublin City Council reserves the right to assign an employee to any Department.

(c) One year’s probation applies.

CITIZENSHIP

Candidates must be, by the date of application:

a) An EEA citizen (EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), or

b) A UK citizen, or

c) A Swiss citizen pursuant to the EU-Switzerland agreement, or

d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA, UK, or Swiss citizen with a Stamp 4 visa, or

e) A person granted international protection under the International Protection Act 2015, or family member entitled to remain, with a Stamp 4 visa, or

f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is an EEA, UK, or Swiss citizen and has a Stamp 4 visa.

Dublin City Council welcomes all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds and reserves discretion to vary requirements subject to business needs.