Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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626. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the review of the existing suite of engineering qualifications in the local government sector commenced by the previous Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage in April 2024 has concluded; and when he will publish the outcome and act on any recommendations made within. [3311/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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628. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position in relation to the Department HLGH Working Group review of the current engineering qualifications declared under s160 of the Local Government Act 2001. [3519/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 626 and 628 together.

The declaration of qualification for posts in the local government sector is a power given to me as Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage under section 160 (1) (a) of the Local Government Act. My Department keeps existing qualifications under review and will, where necessary, and in consultation with the local government sector and unions, propose changes to existing qualification and/ or identify new qualifications.

A Working Group was established by my Department in April 2024 to undertake a review of the existing suite of engineering qualifications in the local government sector and to propose changes to those qualifications where necessary.

The Working Group has now concluded its work and has recommended a number of changes. My Department is currently in the process of consulting with the relevant public sector unions about these proposals and it is expected that these consultations will conclude in the coming weeks with a view to finalisation as soon as possible thereafter.