Part-Time Inspector and Advisor in the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR)
The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) is a new independent public body that has been established by Government to oversee the functioning and policy consistency of Ireland’s planning process to ensure quality outcomes in relation to proper planning and sustainable development.
The Office is seeking to establish a panel of fee-per-case (FPC) contractors to assist it in its role and functions as set out under the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018 and as summarised below.
Evaluation and Assessment of Statutory Plans and Strategies
The Office will provide statutory observations to the 31 local authorities on appropriate content of their draft development plans, local area plans and any variations of such plans as regards consistency with national and regional planning policy.
The Office will also provide statutory observations to the 3 regional assemblies on appropriate content of their regional spatial and economic strategies as regards consistency with national planning policy.
The Office can also recommend that the Minister for Housing Planning and Local Government uses the powers under Section 31 of the Planning Act to amend relevant parts of plans and strategies to ensure consistency with observations and recommendations of the OPR that were made to the relevant authority and were not implemented.
Undertaking Periodic Reviews of Planning Authority Performance
The OPR will also arrange for periodic reviews of the systems and procedures applied by planning authorities, including An Bord Pleanála in relation to their functions under the Planning Act or may be requested to undertake such a review by the Minister.
The OPR may also recommend to the Minister that steps be taken to ensure the implementation of its recommendations as regards the implementation of its recommendations.
Engaging in Research, Education and Training in Planning
The OPR has also been established to put in place national-level programmes for research on planning topics, as well as training for officials and elected members in relation to planning functions and responsibilities and organising public awareness campaigns around the benefits of planning and its long-term role and functions, for example to maximise public engagement.
The Office can also make recommendations to the Minister on a range of policy and practice related matters concerning planning functions, including the making, by the Minister of statutory guidelines under Section 28 of the Planning Act or a Policy Directive under Section 29 of the Planning Act.
The OPR is in the process of putting in place a team of appropriately qualified and experienced staff to carry out its functions. In addition, the Office is seeking applications from suitably qualified personnel to form a panel from which specialist part time contractor (PTC) tasks may be assigned on a contractual basis from time to time, depending on the level of workload on hand or specific technical requirements.
The Office is seeking to establish a panel of fee-per-case and part-time contractors to include:
- Planning Authority Reviewers with the requisite knowledge and experience to assist in reviews of the organisation, systems and procedures of planning authorities, including An Bord Pleanála and examining complaints; and
- Planning Inspectors with the requisite professional qualifications, knowledge and experience in planning practice to undertake assessments and evaluations of the content of local authority development plans, local area plans, regional assembly regional spatial and economic strategies as well as reviews of draft directions and gathering of specific research related information.
The qualifications and experience required for appointment as a FPC Planning Authority Reviewers is as follows:
Qualifications: A recognised degree in public administration or management.
Experience: 7 years of relevant experience working in or for public bodies, at least 5 of which was at the level of Senior Executive Officer or equivalent or higher, demonstrating the capacity to conduct formal and informal inquires effectively, collecting all necessary information to report impartially and accurately and drawing conclusions to make recommendations.
Desirable: Ability to conduct work in both written and oral form through Irish and experience in and knowledge of the planning and other legislation relevant.
The qualifications and experience for appointment as a FPC Planning Inspectors is as follows:
Qualifications: A recognised degree in planning (National Framework for Qualifications Level 8 or higher).
Experience: 7 years relevant experience working within the planning process, at least 5 of which was in relation to the preparation of statutory plans, including their written statements and maps, demonstrating the capacity to conduct formal and informal inquires effectively, collecting all necessary information to report impartially and accurately and drawing conclusions to make recommendations.
Desirable: Ability to conduct work in both written and oral form through Irish and an ability to use geographical information systems in connection with the required work.
Fee-per-case contractors will be required to prepare reports and recommendations within strict timescales and meeting a variety of statutory requirements. Details of fee rates are as follows:
| Fee Rate | |
| FPC | €544 per case (typed) |
| PTC | €500 per day |
Applications containing a CV (PDF) and a Covering letter (PDF) should be sent by email to recruiting@opr.ie no later than 17.30 on 14 May 2019.
GDPR Privacy Statement – Fee-Per-Case Consultants
Purpose of Processing Personal Information
The Office of the Planning Regulator engages fee per case contractors to undertake file work and as a result are asked to supply contact details and other relevant personal information.
Legal Basis for Processing Personal Information
- Necessary for performance of a contract or to enter into such a contract;
- Compliance with legal obligation (Terms of Employment Information Act) 1994 – 2014.
- All personal information will be processed in compliance with GDPR as per the Data Protection Act 2018
Recipients
The following shall receive your personal information for reasons outlined below:
| Recipient | Reason |
| HR | Storing fee per case file and contact details. |
Details of Data Transfers outside the EU
No data is processed outside the EU
Automated Decision Making
This does not apply to this process.
Retention Period for Personal Data
The data will be retained on the consultant’s file during their engagement and for an appropriate period thereafter.
Your GDPR Rights in Relation to this Process
| Right | Explanation |
| Access | You can request and receive access to the information requested in the process at any time. |
| Portability | You can request and receive a copy of this data, in electronic/transferable format, at any time |
| Erasure | You can request the data held be erased. We have outlined the anticipated retention period above. |
| Rectification | You can have any incorrect information, due to this being updated or otherwise, to be corrected |
| Objection | You can object to this information being processed and ask for your application to be removed from process. |
| Complain | You can make a complaint to our internal Data Protection Officer (contact details outlined below) and/or make a complaint to the relevant supervisory authority – Data Protection Commission in Ireland. |
Contact Details: Email: dataprotection@opr.ie