CANDIDATE INFORMATION BOOKLET - GRADUATE PLANNER

Longford County Council is one of Local Authorities in the Republic of Ireland. The
Council has responsibility for the delivery of a wide range of services which are
necessary to the physical, economic, social and cultural life of County Longford, with a
focus on making Longford an attractive place to live, work and invest.
The following comprise the areas of service delivery in Longford County Council:
• Economic & Community Development • Fire & Emergency Services
• Local Enterprise • Environment
• Planning • Finance
• Cultural & Recreational Services • Information Services
• Infrastructure • Corporate Services

• Water Services • Human Resources

• Housing

This is an opportunity to gain employment in the role of Graduate Planner with Longford County
Council.
Longford County Council is committed to a policy of open and fair recruitment, in line with
good practice, recruitment & selection standards, employment legislation and relevant
circulars from the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.
This Candidate Information Booklet is intended to provide information on the post of
Graduate Planner and the selection process and candidates are advised to familiarise
themselves with the detailed information in advance of submitting their application.
Candidates should satisfy themselves that they are eligible under the Qualifications to apply
for the post of Graduate Planner.
Where a candidate provides false or misleading information or has deliberately omitted
relevant information on their application form this may result in their disqualification from
the competition.
Longford County Council GP/ Page

. EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE ETC.

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:
hold an honours degree (level in the National Framework of Qualifications) in Planning.
Longford County Council GP/ Page

. REFERENCES

Applicants are required to advise the names of two responsible persons to whom they are well known but not
related.
In advance of any offer of employment, Longford County Council reserves the right to seek both written and verbal
references from current and previous employers, educational institutions or any other organisations with which the
candidate has been associated. Longford County Council reserves the right to determine the merit,
appropriateness and relevance of such references and referees. Information sought from referees shall be
structured around the requirements of the job and the job description, person specification and/or competency
profile provided.

. VERIFICATION OF EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

Prior to appointment, the candidate will be required to present the original parchment of their certificate, diploma
and/or degree and any other supporting documentation required by the Council*, to the Human Resources

department in order to verify their qualifications.

• Non-Irish Qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland

(QQI) to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications, overseas
qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.

THE ROLE AND DUTIES

Graduate Planners work within the planning section. The section works broadly under four headings as
follows: Forward Planning, Development Management, Enforcement and Public Realm. Local Authorities

also pay a key role in supporting economic development and enterprise promotion at a local level.

• The Graduate Planner will work under the direction and management of a Senior Planner or other

employee designated by the Director of Services as appropriate.

• The Graduate Planner will be required at times to work on their own initiative as circumstances

demand on a broad range of projects. They will be required to work as part of a multi-disciplinary

project team in the Councils busy Planning Department.

• The role requires good administrative, interpersonal, communication and other particular skills

depending on assignment.

• The successful candidate will be expected to carry out the duties in a manner that enhances public

trust and confidence and ensures impartial decision making.
The duties of the office are to give the local authority and;
(a) Such other local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive Officer, for the purposes acts is
Manager, 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 sub-paragraph (a) or this paragraph under the
direction and supervision of the appropriate officer, such planning or ancillary services of an
advisory, supervisory or executive 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
including the duty of assisting the Senior Planner, or other appropriate professional officer, in the
supervision of the planning or ancillary services of any of the forgoing local authorities or bodies,
and when required to do so, to perform the duty of acting for the appropriate professional officer
of higher rank during the absence of such officer of higher rank.

Responsibilities of the Graduate Planner will include:

• To write reports and make recommendations on planning matters as assigned;
• To complete site inspections as part of his or her case load;
• Preparing responses to preplanning requests and holding preplanning discussions with prospective

applicants;

• Preparing responses to appeals of Planning Decisions;
• Preparing recommendations on compliance with Planning Conditions;
• Carrying out survey work, research and analysis, drafting policies and proposals, preparing written

statements and maps and other work as required on the agreed Forward Planning work
programme;
Longford County Council GP/ Page

responsibilities.

• Manages time and workload effectively.
• Maintains a positive and constructive and enthusiastic attitude t

their role.

• Understands and implements change and demonstrates flexibilit