Recruitment drive launched for city and county planners
The local Government initiative is focussed on attracting graduates exiting degree or masters courses in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Britain and internationally.
Successful candidates will help shape the future development of cities, towns and villages over the coming decades.
"Planners are critical to tackling the big challenges facing the world in which we live ' including housing, protecting our environment, biodiversity and heritage," said Liam Conneally, Chair of the County and City Management Association's Planning and Land Use Committee.
A total of 43 new posts are now available in 26 of the 31 county and city councils nationwide, offering a starting salary of almost €39,000, 24 days' annual leave and a structured career allowing graduates to progress to professional planning.
Mateusz Ciesiolka from Dublin graduated from TUD Bolton Street with a degree in Planning and Environmental Management and is now working with Dublin City Council.
"You're helping to determine the future development of your city or your village, but most importantly, we plan for people," he said.
Planner Grace Hamilton secured a graduate position with Meath County Council two months after finishing her full-time studies at Queen's University in Belfast last August.
"Every day is different, and it makes you see the world differently, there are things you wouldn't notice otherwise, and you can see the transformation of an area from start to finish," she said.
The initiative is part of the Government's Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources, which sets out a roadmap to increase the pool of planning expertise in local authorities.
Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, John Cummins, said taking on dynamic graduate planners is crucial to drive the enhancement and development of cities, towns and villages.
"My Department is working with the local government sector to ensure planning authorities have the requisite level of staffing, resources and expertise to efficiently and effectively perform their planning functions," he said.
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