Clerical Officer

Principal Duties The role of Clerical Officer working as part of the Corporate Team will contribute to the achievement of the Agency's objectives and effectiveness by ensuring that the day-to-day office functions are efficient and responsive to the Project.

The role involves: • Dealing with telephone queries and acting as a receptionist for the GDA's offices. • Assisting with the preparation of agendas, minutes and general documentation for the Board of the Agency, its committees, working groups and for the Consultative Group. • Ensuring up-to-date contact details of stakeholders, interested parties are maintained. • Providing clerical support to the various functions in the Agency. • Maintaining and updating the Admin A-Z on OneNote. • Providing support in organizing public or consultation meetings and workshops. • Providing support in updating policies and procedures for the GDA. • Providing support for Corporate Health & Safety. • Maintaining an effective electronic filing and records system, including archiving Procurement of office supplies and equipment. • Stocktaking of office supplies and equipment and ensuring there are no stock shortages. • Managing PPE equipment for construction site visits. • Conducting staff surveys using MS forms. • Providing photocopying and filing support to the GDA team. • Ordering couriers/taxis for the GDA team. • Dealing with the GDA's incoming and outgoing post. • Booking and setting up rooms, materials, and consumables (catering) for meetings. • Preparing of documentation and presentation material for meetings. • Raising Purchase Orders (PO's). • Liaising with Office contractors (Fire Extinguisher Maintenance, Water Cooler/Boiler Servicing, Cleaners). • Coordinating Staff Social Events. • Ensuring that the GDA offices, kitchen and lobby area are kept tidy, clean, and professional looking at all times. • Undertaking any other duties of a similar level and responsibility as may be required from time to time.

The functions and responsibilities assigned to this position are based on the current stated role and may be changed from time to time. The person appointed requires the flexibility to fulfil other roles and responsibilities at a similar level within the GDA. As this role includes reception duties it is not suitable for blended working. Candidate Requirements Candidates shall on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms have the following: • Essential Requirements: • Leaving Certificate Qualification • A minimum of 1 year's relevant office administration experience including provision of secretarial support, minute taking, etc. • Excellent IT skills (including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and SharePoint). • Good communications skills and ability to work as part of a team.

Desirable Requirements: • Letter writing skills and grammatical proficiency • Previous experience of working in administration within an educational or public service setting. • Good organisational skills and an ability to work on own initiative. • Experience in dealing with Local Community or Voluntary Groups Eligibility to compete and certain restrictions on eligibility Eligible Candidates must be: • A citizen of the European Economic Area. The EEA (European Economic Area) consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway; or • A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); • A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU (European Union) and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or • A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or • A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015, or any family member entitled to remain in the State because of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa or • A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

To qualify candidates must meet one of the citizenship criteria above by the date of any job offer. Candidates who are not citizens of the aforementioned countries must have the necessary permissions to work in Ireland. Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform letter dated 28th June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 1st June 2012, a Collective Agreement which had been reached between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Services Committee of the ICTU in relation to ex-gratia Redundancy Payments to Public Servants. It is a condition of the Collective Agreement that persons availing of the agreement will not be eligible for re-employment in the Public Service by any Public Service body (as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 – 2011) for a period of 2 years from termination of the employment. People who availed of this scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility) and the Minister’s consent will have to be secured prior to employment by any Public Service body.

Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that, retirees, under that Scheme, are not eligible to apply for another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.

Department of Education and Skills Early Retirement Scheme for Teachers Circular It is a condition of the Early Retirement Scheme that with the exception of the situations set out in paragraphs 10.2 and 10.3 of the relevant circular documentation, and with those exceptions only, if a teacher accepts early retirement under Strands 1, 2 or 3 of this scheme and is subsequently employed in any capacity in any area of the public sector, payment of pension to that person under the scheme will immediately cease. Pension payments will, however, be resumed on the ceasing of such employment or on the person's 60th birthday, whichever is the later, but on resumption, the pension will be based on the person's actual reckonable service as a teacher (i.e., the added years previously granted will not be considered in the calculation of the pension payment).

Department of Health and Children Circular (7/2010) The Department of Health Circular 7/2010 dated 1 November 2010 introduced a Targeted Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Scheme and Voluntary Redundancy Schemes (VRS). It is a condition of the VER scheme that persons availing of the scheme will not be eligible for reemployment in the public health sector or in the wider Public Service or in a body wholly or mainly funded from public moneys. The same prohibition on re-employment applies under the VRS, except that the prohibition is for a period of 7 years. People who availed of either of these schemes are not eligible to compete in this competition.

Department of Environment, Community & Local Government The Department of Environment, Community & Local Government Circular Letter LG(P) 06/2013 introduced a Voluntary Redundancy Scheme for Local Authorities. In accordance with the terms of the Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants dated 28 June 2012 as detailed above, it is a specific condition of that VER Scheme that persons will not be eligible for reemployment in any Public Service body [as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 – 2011 and the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012] for a period of 2 years from their date of departure under this Scheme. These conditions also apply in the case of engagement/employment on a contract for service basis (either as a contractor or as an employee of a contractor).

Declaration Applicants will be required to declare whether they have previously availed of a Public Service scheme of incentivised early retirement. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Public Service employment and/or where they have received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment. It is the responsibility of former public or civil servant candidates to ensure their eligibility to apply. Potential candidates who participated in a voluntary severance/redundancy or early retirement programs, received a redundancy payment or are in receipt of a public sector pension, should familiarise themselves with their individual conditions pertaining to public sector re-employment and declare same if applying. Principal Conditions of Service Salary Entry will be at the minimum of the scale and increments may be awarded subject to satisfactory performance and to changes in the terms and conditions relating to salary increments in the Civil/Public Service generally. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. PPC (Personal Pension Contribution) Scale (for officers who are existing civil or public servants appointed on or after 6 April 1995 or who are new entrants to the civil or public service and who are making a compulsory personal pension contribution).

Clerical Officer (PPC) 590.21 – 623.23 – 631.62 – 647.99 – 672.15 – 696.26 – 720.35 – 737.91 – 757.82 – 780.93 – 797.18 – 820.07 – 842.79 – 878.27 – 906.13¹ – 918.93² A different rate will apply where the appointee is a civil or public servant recruited before 6th April 1995 and who is not required to make a Personal Pension Contribution. Other pay and conditions may apply if, immediately prior to appointment, the appointee is a serving civil or public servant.

Important Note Entry will be at the minimum of the scale and the rate of remuneration will not be subject to negotiation and may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. Different terms and conditions may apply if you are a currently serving civil or public servant. Subject to satisfactory performance, increments may be payable in line with current Government Policy. Successful candidates will agree to repay any overpayment of salary, allowances, or expenses in accordance with Circular 07/2018: Recovery of Salary, Allowances, and Expenses Overpayments made to Staff Members/Former Staff Members/Pensioners.

Annual Leave The annual leave allowance for the position of Clerical Officer Grade is 22 days. This allowance is subject to the usual conditions regarding the granting of annual leave in the Civil or Public Service, is based on a five-day week and is exclusive of the usual public holidays.

Hours of Attendance Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 35 hours nett per week. The successful candidate will be required to work such additional hours from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of their duties subject to the limits set down in the working time regulations. The rate of remuneration payable covers any extra attendance liability that may arise from time to time.

Place of Work The GDA’s offices are currently located at Park House, Grangegorman, Dublin 7. The offices will be such as may be designated from time to time by the Agency to meet the needs of the project and could relocate during the contract to facilitate the work of the Agency. When absent from home and office on duty, appropriate travelling expenses and subsistence allowances will be paid subject to the normal Civil or Public Service regulations.

Tenure and Position The position of Clerical Officer is a full-time 5-year fixed term contract. The provisions of the Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 – 2007 will not apply to the termination of the contract consisting only of the expiry of the fixed term. The probationary contract will be for a period of 6 months, this is included and not additional to the specified purpose contract. Notwithstanding this paragraph and the paragraph immediately following below, this will not preclude an extension of the probationary contract in appropriate circumstances. During the period of your probationary contract, your performance will be subject to review by your supervisor(s) to determine whether you: (i) Have performed in a satisfactory manner, (ii) Have been satisfactory in general conduct, and (iii) Are suitable from the point of view of health with regard to sick leave.

Suspension of Probation The Agency may suspend the probationary period and, as a result, extend the term of the probationary contract in the following circumstances: • the probationary period will be suspended if the officer is on Maternity or Adoptive leave, • the probationary period may, at the discretion of the Department, be suspended where the employee is absent on any other form of statutory or non-statutory leave. Where the Agency’s ability to assess the officer and/or the officer’s ability to demonstrate their suitability for permanent appointment is compromised by the officer’s absence on leave, the contract period will be extended by the period of leave taken.

Duties The appointee will be required to perform any duties appropriate to their grade which may be assigned to them. They may not engage in private practice or be connected with any outside business which would interfere with the performance of official duties. Sick Leave Pay during properly certified sick absence, provided there is no evidence of permanent disability for service, will apply on a pro-rata basis, in accordance with the provisions of the sick leave circulars. Officers who will be paying Class A rate of PRSI will be required to sign a mandate authorising the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to pay any benefits due under the Social Welfare Acts directly to the employing Department or Organisation. Payment during illness will be subject to the officer making the necessary claims for social insurance benefit to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection within the required time limits. Candidates will be shortlisted on the following essential requirements in

Superannuation and Retirement The appointee will be offered public service pension terms and retirement age conditions in accordance with pension arrangements in the GDA depending on the status of the successful appointee: In general, an appointee who has never worked in the Public Service will be offered appointment based on membership of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme (“Single Scheme”). Full details of the Scheme are at www.singlepensionscheme.gov.ie Where the appointee has worked in a pensionable (non-Single Scheme terms) public service job in the 26 weeks prior to appointment or is currently on a career break or special leave with/without pay, different terms may apply. The pension entitlement of such appointees will be established in the context of their public service employment history.

Pension Abatement If the appointee has previously been employed in the Civil or Public Service and is in receipt of a pension from the Civil or Public Service or where a Civil/Public Service pension comes into payment during their re-employment that pension will be subject to abatement in accordance with Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. Please note: In applying for this position, you are acknowledging that you understand that the abatement provisions, where relevant, will apply. It is not envisaged that the employing Department/Office will support an application for an abatement waiver in respect of appointments to this position. However, if the appointee was previously employed in the Civil or Public Service and awarded a pension under voluntary early retirement arrangements (other than the Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement (ISER), the Department of Health Circular 7/2010 VER/VRS or the Department of Environment, Community & Local Government Circular letter LG(P) 06/2013, any of which renders a person ineligible for the competition) the entitlement to that pension will cease with effect from the date of reappointment. Special arrangements may, however, be made for the reckoning of previous service given by the appointee for the purpose of any future superannuation award for which the appointee may be eligible.