Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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308. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there are rules governing the recruitment process at local authority level; if it is compulsory to advertise vacancies publicly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20664/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The filling of positions within the local government sector is subject to sanction by my Department. Following the issue of sanction from my Department, the recruitment of staff is a matter for the Chief Executive of each local authority but must be carried out in line with appropriate Departmental Circulars, legislation and collective agreements. Vacant local authority posts are filled through open competition save where there are collective agreements in place which determine that the posts shall be filled in the first instance through competition confined to the local authority, the sector and/or other agencies within the public service.  Senior positions (i.e. Senior Executive Officer and above for administrative grades, and Senior Executive Engineer and equivalent and above for Technical/Professional grades) are filled by open competition and are run by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). Other grades are filled by competition directly by the local authority unless a request for the assistance of the PAS is made.

Vacancies must be advertised publicly and are usually carried on two forms of the most appropriate media for the post being advertised. Media include the Public Appointments Service website, the relevant local authority website, the local and national press, local government magazines and specialist trade journals.