Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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1188. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position in relation to the advertisement of a senior executive officer role for Drogheda as agreed in 2019; if the role will be publicly advertised or advertised internally only; the expected date for the role to become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2638/20]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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In Autumn 2019, Louth County Council submitted a proposal to my Department proposing the creation of two senior positions, one each in Drogheda and Dundalk, to enhance planning and development within the towns in alignment with the requirements of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and in coordination with Meath County Council in the context of Drogheda. The Council sought financial assistance from my Department in this regard and I was pleased to confirm in December 2019 the availability of a once-off payment of €200,000 to the Council on a matched-funding basis to assist in the creation of two such positions for a three-year period.

Louth County Council sought formal sanction from my Department for two additional staff at SEO grade level in early 2020, the posts to be filled by internal competition.  Formal sanction was communicated by my Department to the Council on 31 January 2020 on a three year specific purpose contract basis with recruitment confined to the local government sector.  

The expected start date(s) and detailed role and functions of the posts are a matter for Louth County Council in accordance with section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 which provides that each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.