Assistant Planner

THE ROLE

The Assistant Planner works as part of a multi-disciplinary team within Laois County Council’s Planning, Housing and Regeneration Directorates to deliver key local authority services, including forward planning, development management, planning enforcement and project-based areas.

The role requires a clear knowledge and understanding of local authority services and its key stakeholders and relationships, local government structures and its democratic role and mandate, current local government issues, future trends and strategic direction of the sector, management and implementation of change, and the future development of County Laois.

The Assistant Planner shall operate under the direction of and report to the Senior Executive Planner/Senior Planner (Supervisors) of the Planning section to which they are assigned. They must undertake those duties as assigned to them by their supervisor.

Notwithstanding the requirements of the post successful applicants may be assigned to any service area/role within the Local Authority at an analogous level by the Chief Executive at any time.

THE QUALIFICATIONS 

• CHARACTER:

Candidates shall be of good character.

• HEALTH:

Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render an efficient service. Successful candidates will be required to undergo a pre-employment medical examination carried out by the Council’s Occupational Medical advisor prior to appointment. On taking up appointment, the expense of the medical examination will be refunded to the candidate.

• EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE ETC:

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms: - 

• Hold a qualification in Planning (at least level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications).
• Have at least two years’ satisfactory relevant experience of planning work.
• Possess a high standard of technical training and expertise.

***Non Irish Qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications. Overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.***

The Ideal Candidate Shall:

Demonstrate through their application form and at the interview that he/she has:

• Good planning, operational and project management skills
• Good communications/presentation and interpersonal skills
• Good knowledge, or the ability to quickly acquire same, of local government functions, services and activities, particularly in relation to planning and development
• A good working knowledge of planning legislation and the principals, practices and techniques of planning
• An ability to work under pressure and to think laterally, maintaining a solution orientated mindset while dealing with a wide range of issues
• An excellent understanding of Health and Safety legislation and regulations and their application in the workplace. 
• Good report writing skills and strong IT skills
• An ability to prepare and present reports
• An ability to interpret and undertake critical analysis of scientific data
• Problem solving skills
• An ability to achieve delivery of completing demands within prescribed timelines and deadlines

On the date of appointment persons must possess a current unendorsed full driving licence (Category B), as successful

candidates may be required to drive a vehicle in the course of their duties.

Key Duties:

Details of Key Duties are outlined under ‘The Principal Terms and Conditions’ below.

THE PRINCIPAL TERMS & CONDITIONS 

The position is whole time, permanent and pensionable. 

The Council reserves the right to, at any time, re-assign an employee to any department now or in the future

• PROBATION:

Where a person who is not already a permanent employee of this local authority is appointed, the following provisions shall apply:

• There shall be a period after appointment takes effect, during which such a person shall hold the position on probation;
• Such period shall be ten months, but the Chief Executive may, at his/her discretion, extend such period;
• Such a person shall cease to hold the position at the end of the period of probation, unless during this period the Chief Executive has certified that the service is satisfactory;
• There will be ongoing assessments during the probationary period. Employment may be terminated by either party during probation or at the end of the probationary period on one week’s notice.

• REMUNERATION:

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Holders of the office shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than their inclusive salary) payable to or received by them by virtue of their office or in respect of services which they are required by or under any enactment to perform. The current annual pay-scale is: €45,802 – €71,185 LSI 2 (as per circular EL 03/2024).

Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department circular. New entrants will commence on the minimum point of the scale.

• DUTIES:

The duties of the office are to give to:

• the local authority and

• Such other local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive, for the purposes of the Local Government Acts, is Chief Executive, and

• to any other local authority or body with which an agreement has been made by the local authority or by any of the authorities or bodies mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph, such appropriate services - of an engineering, technical, scientific, executive, administrative or management nature - as are required for the exercise and performance of any of its powers, duties and functions under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or of such other officers as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine and as may be allocated or delegated to him or her by the Chief Executive from time to time including the duty of servicing committees that may be established by the local authority and such duties as may be required in relation to the area of any local authority. The holder of the office, will, if required, act for an officer of a higher level.

The main duties and responsibilities of the role of Assistant Planner include but are not limited to the following:

• Assessment and making of recommendations on planning application in line with all relevant national, regional and local plans/policies, and in accordance with the appropriate legislation and guidelines as required.
• Conducting of pre-application consultations and provision of planning advice to member of the public, internal departments and to the elected member in an efficient and flexible manner.
• Preparation and implementation of the County Development Plan, local area plans, planning schemes and other planning related reports as required.
• Liaising and working with neighbouring planning authorities and other public authorities on all aspects of implementation.
• Monitoring and reporting on implementation progress, including gathering/analysis of development and market activity.
• Preparation of policy and reports as required on a wide variety of planning matters.
• Any other associated duties as may be assigned from time to time.
• The particular duties and responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibilities entailed. The post holder may therefore be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above, and to take instructions from and report to, an appropriate Officer or such designated Officer as may be assigned from time to time by Laois County Council.

RETIREMENT AGE:

The Single Public Service Pension Scheme (“Single Scheme”) as provided by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 commenced with effect from 1st January 2013. The act introduced new pension and retirement provisions for new entrants to the public service appointed on or after 1st January 2013. The normal retirement age under the Single Pension Scheme is the same as the age at which you can claim the Contributory State Pension from the Department of Social Protection which is currently 66 years of age with a compulsory retirement age of 70. Otherwise, the retirement age of the relevant pension. It should be noted that candidates who are in receipt of a Public Service Pension and are re-hired in any paid capacity by a Public Service Body may be liable to have their pension abated. Prior to appointment successful candidates will be obliged to complete a Declaration in relation to previous Public Pensionable Employment.

• RESIDENCE:

The holder of the post shall reside in the district in which his/her duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.

8. SUPERANNUATION:

The superannuation contributions of relevant scheme will apply.

9. ANNUAL LEAVE:

The annual leave entitlement for the position of Assistant Planner is 30 days per annum.

10. SICK LEAVE:

The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail.

11. DRIVING LICENCE: 

When required to do so, holders of the office shall possess a current full driving licence in respect of Category B vehicles or equivalent in the EU Model Driving Licence and have access to a car. If, during your employment, your licence is revoked, even temporarily, or if you receive endorsements on your licence which may affect your duties you are obliged to notify the Council immediately.

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