Gardener

QUALIFICATIONS

Applications on the official form are invited from qualified persons who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which Permanent or Temporary appointments may be made as Gardener for positions as they arise.

CHARACTER:

Each candidate shall be of good character.

HEALTH:

Each candidate must be in a state of health as would indicate 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 application form:

a) Have satisfactorily completed The National Diploma in Horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens, Horticulture College or equivalent qualification

AND

b) Hold a full unendorsed driving licence (Category B or equivalent) that permits permanent driving in Ireland

AND

Hold a valid work permit if required

All non-EU/EEA citizens must hold a valid work permit prior to and for the duration of their contract. The work permit must allow you to work full time for Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. It is the responsibility of individual employees to ensure that you have a valid work permit. If at any stage during your contract you cease to hold a valid work permit you must immediately advise Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and your employment will cease with immediate effect.

It is desirable for candidates to:

• Hold a current safe pass card on taking up duty

• Have a good knowledge of mechanical plant including the agricultural tractor and ancillary equipment

• Have the ability to oversee and implement a programme of works and/or significant landscape project undertaken by direct labour or outside contractors or a combination of these

• Have a good knowledge and understanding of environmental issues and be familiar with relevant legislation

• A knowledge of the cultivation of plants, both outdoor and under glass, as well as a good knowledge of decorative gardening

• Have a thorough knowledge of landscape/amenity horticulture

• Experience in the use and care of tools, machines and appliances used in the maintenance of parks and gardens

Candidates will demonstrate through their application form and at interview the following skills and attributes:

• Understanding of the role

• Ability to apply previous experience to the role

• Good communication and interpersonal skills

• Self-motivated with a record of demonstrating initiative and ability to use judgement in a workplace environment

• Be capable of dealing satisfactorily with outside bodies, residents associations, public representatives etc.

• Capacity to contribute to and work well in a team

• Sufficient knowledge and understanding of Health & Safety requirements, legislation and regulations

• Flexibility in terms of working hours as the duties can involve working outside of normal hours as required

• Knowledge of the services provided by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

• Demonstrate customer awareness skills and a positive customer service attitude

• Ability to maintain accurate and complete records of all tasks carried out in hard copy and electronic format

• Have ability to supervise depot staff, students and contractors operating within their area and be competent in their supervision and be able to demonstrate this

• Ability to take and record measurements including basic surveying, levelling and setting out procedures

• Be capable of keeping a written record

PARTICULARS OF THE POSITION

The office is permanent, whole-time and pensionable.

WAGES – WEEKLY RATE:

€806.28; €828.41; €882.40; €; €888.15; €893.90; €899.21; €904.96; €910.27; €916.03; €921.34; €927.09 (Incremental Scale) Rates as at 1/02/2026

A daily travel allowance equivalent to one hour rate of pay and daily meal allowance is also applicable.

Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department Housing, Planning and Local Government.

In accordance with Departmental Circular letter EL 02/2011, a person who is not a serving local authority employee on or after 1st 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.

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 any services which they are required by or under any enactment to perform.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE):

As a condition of employment, the holder of the post will be required, at all times when on duty, to wear such items of personal protective equipment as are specified from time to time by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

SUPERANNUATION CONTRIBUTION:

Persons who become pensionable officers of a Local Authority who are liable to pay the 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 social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependant or qualified children).

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

All persons who become pensionable officers of a Local Authority will be required in respect of the Spouses and Children’s Contributory Pension Scheme to contribute to the Local Authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration in accordance with the terms of the scheme.

RETIREMENT:

New entrants recruited to the Public Service on or after 1 January 2013

Pensionable public servants (new joiners) recruited to the Public Service for the first time on or after 1 January 2013 (the commencement date of the Single Scheme) will be members of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.

Pension age

Minimum pension age is linked to the State Pension age which is currently 66 but may be subject to change.

Compulsory retirement age

Scheme members must retire at the age of 70.

In all other cases, staff recruited on or after 1 January 2013 who were employed in the Public Service on 31 December 2012 or within a period prior to 31 December 2012 not exceeding 26 weeks will retain their existing pension scheme terms and conditions.

In certain circumstances, e.g. where the public servant was on secondment or approved leave or remains on the same contract of employment, the 26-week rule does not apply.

Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER)

It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department 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.

HOURS OF WORK

Applicants will be required to work a 39 hour week, Monday to Friday (08:00 – 16:30 Monday to Thursday; 08:00 – 15:30 on Friday). They will be required to work overtime as required. They must work as required on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays for which payment at the appropriate rate will be made.

PROBATION:

When a person is not already a permanent officer of a Local Authority within the public service Ireland and is appointed to a permanent office, the following provisions shall apply:

a. There shall be a period after such appointment takes effect during which such person shall hold office on probation

b. Such period shall be one year

c. Such person shall cease to hold such office at the end of the period of probation unless, during such period, the Chief Executive has certified that the service of such person in such office is satisfactory

ANNUAL LEAVE

Annual leave entitlement for the position of Gardener is 24 days per annum in accordance with Department of Environment, Community and Local Government Circular LG(P) 07/2011.

Prior authorisation is essential before annual leave is taken. The granting of annual leave at any particular time is always subject to the requirements of the Council and all annual leave is liable to suspension during periods of exceptional pressure. The final decision in allocating leave rests with Management.

CITIZENSHIP

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

c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons, or

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

e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa, or

f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent Irish citizen child and has been granted residence permission (usually Stamp 4)

DUTIES:

The post holder will be required to carry out all the duties allocated to them by the Council under the direction and supervision of the relevant Supervisor, which will include but are not limited to:

a. The person selected for the post will report to the Senior Executive Parks & Landscape Officer or other authorised person

b. Supervise and control staff who may be detailed to assist them

c. Participation in the PMDS process

d. Be responsible for the efficiency of works in the area and to carry out all instructions/inspections and furnish any reports, diaries, records or other particulars described by the Senior Executive Parks & Landscape Officer or other authorised person

e. Be responsible for the use and care of tools, machines and appliances used in the maintenance of parks and gardens

f. Being available to attend to emergency work outside of normal working hours and participating in an emergency call out roster if required

g. Propagation and cultivation of plants and for the layout, care, upkeep, maintenance and control of ornamental pleasure and recreational grounds in the parks, gardens and open spaces to which they may from time to time be assigned

h. Attendance at meetings and workshops arranged by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

i. To maintain accurate and complete records of all tasks carried out in hard copy and electronic format

j. Co-operating and availing of any new technology and/or systems which may become available to assist in the effective and efficient carrying out of duties or as may be required

k. Ensure that all works being carried out comply with the relevant Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Acts and Regulations, including the completion of Risk Assessments/SSWPs and Accident/Incident forms

l. Complying with Health & Safety requirements of the Council and wear/use any safety equipment/clothing supplied

m. Operate in accordance with current best practice requirements in relation to the activities that staff carry out

n. Operating a Council vehicle as part of work responsibilities and utilising a mobile phone or other electronic devices when required

o. In addition, they may also be required to co-operate fully in the implementation of security arrangements for plant, equipment, etc., as well as security within the Council’s Parks

p. To co-operate and contribute to operational reviews

q. To co-operate and contribute to value for money initiatives

r. To participate fully in any initiative aimed to increase customer satisfaction and quality of service to the community

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 the Council.

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

a. The local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive 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 referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph

under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or of such officers as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate computing, technical, management, administrative, executive, supervisory, advisory and ancillary services 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 and to exercise such powers, functions and duties 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 any such local authority or body. The holder of the post will, if required, act for an officer of a higher level.

LOCATION & RESIDENCE

Holders of the office shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof. Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council reserves the right to assign employees to any premises in use by the Council, now or in the future subject to reasonable notice.

RECRUITMENT

Pursuant to article 8 of the Local Government (Appointment of Officers) Regulation, 1974, the Minister has given directions as follows:

i. Selection of candidates for appointment shall be by means of a competition based on an interview conducted by or on behalf of the Local Authority. The interview will be competency based. Candidates will be required to demonstrate knowledge of the key duties and responsibilities for this role. Please note that the interview may be held in person or online.

ii. DLRCC reserves its right to shortlist candidates, in the manner it deems most appropriate, to proceed to the interview stage of the competition. Following receipt of all applications, job applicants may be shortlisted for assessment based on the extent to which they meet the criteria from the job description and/or where it would not be practical to interview all applicants. Aptitude testing may in some circumstances be used to facilitate the shortlisting process. If required, the testing will be performed through a 3rd party provider and submission of an application for employment is regarded as consent to share your information for the purposes of shortlisting and recruitment. Your information will be provided for the sole purpose of shortlisting suitable candidates and for no other purpose. Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council will ensure any 3rd party fully complies with GDPR and Data Protection legislation. It is therefore in your own interest to provide a detailed and accurate account of your relevant qualifications/experience on the application form and also to demonstrate sufficient evidence of the competencies required for this position under each competency heading which are detailed above. Shortlisting does not suggest that candidates are necessarily unsuitable or incapable of undertaking the job, rather that there are some candidates who, based on their application, appear to be better qualified and/or have more relevant experience. Shortlisting may take the form of desk-top shortlisting, aptitude test and/or preliminary interview or combinations thereof.

iii. If a candidate wishes to appeal either a shortlisting or interview board decision, they must do so within five working days of being notified of this decision. The appeal must clearly state the grounds of appeal which must be emailed to The Appeals Officer recruitment@dlrcoco.ie

. The HR Department will evaluate the grounds of the appeal. If grounds for an appeal are not upheld, HR Management will notify the candidate in writing of this outcome and no further action will be taken. If the grounds upon which the appeal is made are upheld, the HR Department will notify the candidate of this outcome and corrective action will be taken. The decision of the HR Department on the appeal is final.

iv. Panels may be formed on the basis of such interviews. Candidates whose names are on a panel and who satisfy the Local Authority that they are otherwise suitable for appointment may, within the life of the panel, be appointed as appropriate vacancies arise. The life of the panel will not be more than one year reckoned from the date of the formation of the panel unless extended.

v. The Local Authority shall require persons to whom appointments are offered to take up such appointments within a period of not more than one month and if they fail to take up the appointments within such period or such longer period as the Local Authority in its absolute discretion may determine, the Local Authority shall not appoint them.

vi. An applicant who withdraws their application at any stage of the competition will not be permitted to re-enter the competition at a later stage.

ADDITIONAL RELEVANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

• The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 to 2016 came into effect on 29th April 2016. The Act places a statutory obligation on DLRCC to ensure that any work or activity which is carried out by a person, a necessary and regular part of which consists mainly of a person having access to or contact with children or vulnerable persons will be subject of Garda Vetting.

• Subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, applications will be treated in strict confidence.

• It is important to remember that this is a competitive process for a role where integrity is paramount. Sharing information on the selection/interview process, e.g. through social media or any other means, may result in a candidate being disqualified from the competition.

• DLRCC does not allow the unsanctioned use of any type of recording equipment on its premises. This applies to any form of sound recording and any type of still picture or video recording, whether including sound recording or not, and covers any type of device used for these purposes.

• An applicant 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 offer or dismissal.

• A candidate who does not attend for interview when and where required by the Council, or who does not, when requested, furnish such evidence as Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council require in regard to any matter relevant to their candidature, will no longer be considered for selection.

• In the event of an offer of employment, each candidate will be required to provide evidence that they meet all the criteria as set out above and on receipt of satisfactory references.

Examples of some of the current Employee Benefits include:

• A range of family friendly policies

• A staff health screening programme

• Availability of a Cycle to Work Scheme

• A range of learning and developmental opportunities

• Paid maternity and paternity leave

• Automatically entered into a pension scheme

• Access to the services provided under Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council’s Employee Assistance Programme