Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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470. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 852 of 9 September 2024, if the review of the working group has been completed; if a Level 8 BSc in Construction Project Management is to be included in the list of approved qualifications for engineering roles within Local Authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6264/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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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. The declared qualifications for engineering posts in the local government sector specify that a candidate must hold an honours degree (level 8 in the National Framework of Qualifications) in Engineering. Section 160(1)(c) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that a person is not to be appointed to any employment under a local authority for which qualifications are for the time being declared under section 160 unless he or she possesses those qualifications.

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. It is intended to finalise revised qualifications as soon as possible thereafter. It would not be appropriate to comment on the proposed changes pending the outcome of the employee engagement process currently underway with the relevant unions.