Data Protection and Information Governance Officer

Recruitment

Selection will be by means of a competition based on an interview conducted by or on behalf of SDCC. We conduct interviews face to face or online through Microsoft Teams and this will be decided by SDCC. SDCC will not be responsible for any expenses a candidate may incur in attending for interview.

Applicants must have a good standard of written and spoken English to effectively carry out the duties of the role.

Applicants should be prepared for interview any time after the closing date. A candidate who does not attend for interview when and where required by the Council will have no further claim to consideration.

Interview results will be available on our website www.sdcc.ie

Rolling Recruitment

Only applications received electronically through the Council’s eRecruitment system will be accepted.

South Dublin County Council applies rolling recruitment to fill some critical posts. The nature of rolling recruitment is that there is no closing date. This allows us to capture as many applicants as possible to fill these posts on an ongoing basis.

Competitions which are subject to rolling recruitment will close temporarily at short notice once a sufficient number of applications have been received. Shortlisted applicants will be brought forward for interview to fill existing vacancies, and the competition will be reopened to new applications when required.

Competitions that operate on a rolling basis will be clearly indicated in the advertisement.

It is in your best interest, therefore, to submit your application as soon as possible.

Shortlisting

SDCC reserves its right to shortlist applications. Shortlisting may include desktop shortlisting and/or preliminary interviews. Shortlisting will be on the basis of information supplied on the application form and the likely number of vacancies to be filled. For this reason, you should provide a detailed and accurate account of your qualifications and experience on the application form and ensure you fully complete the competency questions where applicable. When providing examples to demonstrate your ability under a particular competency, you should ensure the example is appropriate in scale and scope for the requirements of the position you are applying for.

Panels

A panel may be formed on the basis of such interviews. The life of the panel will be for a period of one year from the date of its formation. Candidates whose names are on a panel and who satisfy the Council that they possess the qualifications declared for the post and that they are otherwise suitable for appointment may, within the life of the panel, be appointed as appropriate vacancies arise.

Acceptance of Offer

SDCC will require persons to whom appointments are offered to take up such appointments within a reasonable period as determined by SDCC. If they fail to take up appointment within such period or such longer period as the Council in its absolute discretion may determine, the Council will not appoint them.

Pre-Employment Checks

For the purpose of satisfying the requirement as to health, it will be necessary for successful candidates to undergo a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by SDCC.

Appointment will not proceed without SDCC obtaining two satisfactory references from responsible persons known to but not related to the candidate. A responsible person should be a person under whom the candidate has served in employment, or in the case of relevant voluntary work, a person who has held a supervisory position. At least one of the references must be from a current employer.

Garda Vetting will be sought prior to appointment in accordance with the National Vetting Bureau Act 2012 – 2016.

A candidate who is found to be ineligible at any stage of the competition will not be further considered. Provision of inaccurate, untrue or misleading information will lead to disqualification from the competition, withdrawal of employment or dismissal.

Citizenship

Critical Skills Occupations

Candidates must, by the date of submission of application form, have a Critical Skills Employment Permit (Stamp 1G). Candidates should ensure that the post they are applying for is included in the Critical Skills Occupations List.

Non-Critical Skills Occupations

Candidates must, by the date of submission of application form, be:

In the case of relief positions advertised by the Council, a person awarded a Stamp 2 visa (student visa) is allowed to work to a maximum of 20 hours work per week.

Blended Working

SDCC is committed to supporting a flexible and balanced working environment. In line with this commitment, we operate a Blended Working Policy in accordance with the provisions of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023.

Under this policy, successful candidates may apply to work remotely up to two days per week, provided that the role is deemed suitable for blended working. Applications for blended working arrangements will be considered in line with operational requirements and the needs of the service.

Please note that blended working arrangements cannot commence until six months of continuous employment have been completed. This ensures adequate time for onboarding, training and integration into the team and organisational culture.

Probation

Where a person is appointed to South Dublin County Council, the following provisions will apply:

a) There will be a period after appointment takes effect, during which such a person will hold the position on probation. b) Such period will be one year, but the Chief Executive may, at his discretion, extend such period. c) Such a person will 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. d) The period at (a) above may be terminated on giving one week’s notice as per the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts. e) There will be assessment(s) during the probationary period.

Officers who have already completed a probationary period with another Local Authority will not be obliged to serve probation with South Dublin County Council.

Salary / Wages

Entry point to a salary / wages scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

In accordance with Departmental Circular Letter EL 02/2011, a person who is not a serving local authority employee on or after 1 January 2011 will enter the scale for the position at the minimum point.

Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government Policy.

Duties

In accordance with Section 159(3) and (4) of the Local Government Act 2001, an employee of the local authority shall perform the duties of the office and give the local authority, under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or of such other officer as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate services of an executive, administrative, technical or management nature as are required for the exercise and performance of any of its powers, functions and duties and to exercise such powers, duties and functions as may be delegated to him or her by the Chief Executive from time to time, including the duty of servicing all 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.

Candidates must also:

Have the knowledge and ability to discharge the duties of the post concerned. Be suitable on the grounds of character. Be suitable in all other relevant respects for appointment to the post concerned.

SDCC is committed to a policy of equal opportunity.

Candidates, if successful, will not be appointed to the post unless they:

Agree to undertake the duties attached to the post and accept the conditions under which the duties are, or may be required to be, performed. Are fully competent and available to undertake, and fully capable of undertaking, the duties attached to the position.

Residence

Holders of the office will reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof, as determined by South Dublin County Council.

Outside Employment

Employees may not engage in private practice or be connected with any outside business which would interfere with the performance of official duties.

Superannuation Contribution

The provisions of the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 may apply.

Persons who become pensionable officers who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required, in respect of their superannuation contribution, to contribute to the local authority as follows:

1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (that is, pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of Social Insurance Old Age Contributory Pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependent or qualified children).

Persons who become pensionable officers who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required, in respect of their superannuation contribution, to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration.

The provisions of the Spouses and Children’s / Widows and Orphans Contributory Pension Scheme will continue to apply.

New entrants will be admitted to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme with effect from the date of appointment. The scheme is contributory and provides pension, retirement gratuity, death gratuity and survivors benefits. To qualify for a pension, the successful candidate must have served a minimum of two years employment in a Local Authority.

2025 Rates and Thresholds

Local Government Superannuation Scheme members €0.00 to €34,500 – 0% €34,500 to €60,000 – 10% Over €60,000 – 10.5%

Single Public Sector Pension Scheme members €0.00 to €34,500 – 0% €34,500 to €60,000 – 3.33% Over €60,000 – 3.5%

Retirement Age

There is no mandatory retirement age for new entrants to the public service as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004.

Anyone who is not a new entrant to the public service, as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, is subject to a compulsory retirement age of 65 years or as determined in accordance with Department Circulars and in line with Government Policy.

The maximum retirement age for new entrants, as defined by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, is 70 years. The Council may refer staff to a medical advisor at any time to determine fitness for carrying out the duties to which they have been assigned.

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 debarred from applying for another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.