Gaeltacht Vacant Homes Coordinator

Mayo County Council is now accepting applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Gaeltacht Vacant Homes Co-ordinator.

This is a newly created role under the Housing for All – Pathway to Addressing Vacancy and Efficient Use of Existing Stock initiative. The Gaeltacht Vacant Homes Co-ordinator (Comhordaitheoir ar Thithe Folmha sa Ghaeltacht) will play a key role in supporting the delivery of new homes through refurbishment and redevelopment projects, helping to meet housing supply targets set out in local development plans.

The successful candidate will be a strong advocate for the Croí Cónaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and will focus specifically on Gaeltacht areas in Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Waterford, and Meath. The Co-ordinator will work closely with the Vacant Homes Officers in each of the seven relevant local authorities.

The successful candidate must have sufficient proficiency in the Irish language to allow them to carry out their role in Irish.

Mayo County Council offers a fulfilling career in a supportive and inclusive workplace where employees are valued and empowered to grow professionally. With flexible working arrangements the Council promotes a healthy work-life balance. Employees enjoy competitive salaries, a pension scheme, and family friendly initiatives. Career progression is a key focus, with opportunities for promotion, continuous training, and educational support. Mayo County Council also prioritizes employee well-being through its Employee Assistance Programme, and additional benefits like the Cycle to Work Scheme. Working with Mayo County Council means advancing your career while making a positive impact on the local community.

1.      CHARACTER

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Candidates shall be of good character.

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

a)     Have obtained at least Grade D (or a 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

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)     Be a competent and experienced Irish speaker. The successful candidate must have sufficient proficiency in the Irish language to allow them to carry out their role in the Irish language. Candidates will be required to sit a written proficiency Irish exam on the day of interview. In addition, 50% of the interview may be conducted through Irish.

It is essential that the ideal candidate should be able to demonstrate that they have the following skills:

a)     Fluency in oral Irish

b)     Ability to communicate clearly in written Irish

 Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

a)     A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway; or

b)     A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

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 This position is a specific purpose contract (with funding in place for a three-year period).

A panel will be formed from qualified candidates from which temporary appointments may be made. This is a pensionable whole-time position on the basis of a 35-hour 5-day week.

2.

The duties of the post are to give to the local authority, and 

a)       such other local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive, for the purposes of the Local Government Acts 2001 and 2014, is Chief Executive, and

b)       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 subparagraph (a) of this paragraph under the general direction and supervision of the Chief Executive or such other employee as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate services of an executive, administrative or management nature as may be required by any local authority or body hereinbefore mentioned in the exercise and performance of any of its powers, functions and duties to exercise such powers, functions and duties as may be delegated to him / her by the Chief Executive from time to time, including the duty of servicing all committees that may be established by any such local authority or body. The post holder will, if required, act for an employee of a higher level if qualified to do so.

The following are among the principal duties envisaged:

a)     Cultural and Linguistic Sensitivity

Engage with communities through the Irish language, ensuring effective communication and fostering trust in Gaeltacht areas.

Develop strategies that respect and align with local traditions, ensuring that initiatives for vacant homes are culturally appropriate and community-driven.

b)     Identifying Vacant Properties

Work collaboratively with local communities within the Gaeltacht, leveraging their knowledge and deep generational ties to identify vacant and underutilised properties.

Establish connections with community organisations, local leaders, and Mayo County Council to gain insights into property status and potential for reuse.

Utilise local and national vacancy data sources, including CSO statistics, GeoDirectory, relevant local authority vacancy and derelict databases and Vacanthomes.ie, to assess and prioritise properties for intervention and engage, collaborate and coordinate with the relevant Vacant Home Officers in this regard.

c)      Engaging Property Owners

Develop and implement tailored communication strategies to engage property owners, recognising the historical and familial significance of properties in Gaeltacht areas.

Promote the benefits of bringing vacant homes back into use, highlighting their potential to strengthen local communities, sustain the Irish language, and support the local economy.

d)     Repurposing for Community Needs

Prioritise the redevelopment of vacant homes to provide housing for Irish-speaking families, educators, and cultural workers, contributing to the linguistic and cultural sustainability of the Gaeltacht.

Encourage investment in vacant properties by facilitating access to relevant funding schemes, ensuring properties contribute to the economic revitalisation of Gaeltacht communities.

Work with local schools, community groups, and businesses to explore innovative uses for vacant properties that serve wider community needs.

e)     Collaboration and Coordination

Work in partnership with Mayo County Council and other stakeholders to coordinate a strategic approach to tackling vacancy in the Gaeltacht.

Liaise with housing teams, planners, and economic development officers within local authorities to ensure vacant homes initiatives align with broader housing and regeneration strategies.

Engage with private sector partners, non-profits, and government agencies to explore opportunities for sustainable redevelopment of vacant properties.

f)      Monitoring and Reporting

Maintain accurate records and provide regular reports on the progress of vacancy reduction efforts, ensuring transparency and accountability. Collaborate and co-ordinate with the relevant Vacant Home Officers in this regard.

Assess the cultural and economic impact of repurposed properties, measuring their contribution to community sustainability, local economy, and language preservation.

Establish feedback mechanisms to ensure ongoing community engagement and adaptation of strategies to meet evolving local needs.

g)     Supporting Policy and Legislative Frameworks

Candidates for the post must demonstrate that they have competency and skills in the following areas. Application forms should include one practical example which demonstrates these competencies. Interviews will be competency based and marks will be awarded under these skills sets.

Planning and organisational skills

·        Ability to manage resources

·        Ability to analyse and identify key issues / demands

·        Ability to work under pressure in a cross functional environment and to tight timelines

Initiative and delivery of results

·        Track record of achievements

·        Problem solving and resolution

·        High level of attention to detail

·        Compliance with various policies / standards

·        Judgement and ability to work autonomously

Interpersonal skills and communicating effectively

·        Effective verbal and written communication skills in Irish and English

·        Ability to present ideas effectively and to present to groups in Irish and English

·        Ability to deal with media in Irish and English

·        Ability to communicate effectively with members of the public from various Gaeltacht areas

·        Ability to write fluently, and to prepare clearly structured written reports in Irish and English

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2)     Persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority under the Local Government (superannuation) (consolidation) scheme, 1998 and who are liable to pay class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of State Pension Contributory payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependant or qualified children).