Longford County Council joins major recruitment drive to attract graduate planners into Ireland’s local authorities
Local government plays a vital role in shaping entire communities
Press Release: Monday, 26 May 2025
Longford County Council has joined a major national recruitment drive to attract graduate planners to work in the local authority sector. The local government initiative, which was recently launched, aims to attract suitably qualified graduates exiting degree or masters courses in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Britain and internationally. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to positively shape the future development of cities, towns, and villages, turning ambitious projects into reality over the coming decades.
The initiative is part of the Government’s Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources, which sets out a roadmap to increase the pool of planning expertise in local authorities. A total of 43 new posts are available in 26 of the 31 county and city councils nationwide, offering a starting salary of almost €39,000, 24 days’ annual leave and a structured career allowing graduates to progress to professional planning. There is currently one graduate planner position available in Longford County Council.
Chair of the County and City Management Association’s Planning and Land Use Committee, Liam Conneally said, “Planners are critical to tackling the big challenges facing the world in which we live – including housing, protecting our environment, biodiversity, and heritage.
“Local government plays a vital role in shaping entire communities and we now need dynamic graduate planners to join our teams across the country, where they can be involved in exciting projects, share their ideas, and learn from experienced planners.
“This new stream of planners will have a real and direct impact on sculpting areas in which they themselves live,” added Mr Conneally, who is also Galway County Council Chief Executive.
Michéal Beirne, 24, from Knockcroghery, County Roscommon graduated from UCD with a degree in City Planning and Environmental Policy. Now working in Longford County Council, Michéal enjoys great variety in his role.
“I was delighted to join a really experienced team at Longford County Council. I am six months in the role, and I’ve already learned a considerable amount from my colleagues. I am working on policy in relation to forward planning and dealing with the County Development Plan and the Local Area Plan so there is great variety in my work. I could be dealing with issues relating to climate change, transport or housing- planning impacts almost every facet of the local authority. I also have a particular interest in research and environmental policy- no two days are the same in the local authority, it’s very interesting and there are so many opportunities,” said Michéal.
Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, John Cummins, said taking on dynamic graduate planners is crucial to drive the enhancement and development of our cities, towns, and villages.
“My Department is working with the local government sector to ensure planning authorities have the requisite level of staffing, resources and expertise to efficiently and effectively perform their planning functions,” he said.
“In October 2024, my Department published a Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources to respond to capacity challenges in the planning sector. “This provides a detailed roadmap to increase the pool of planning and related expertise needed to ensure a planning system fit for current and future needs. The graduate recruitment scheme is an important initiative to attract planning talent into the authorities responsible for developing our cities, towns, and villages.”
The Local Government Ireland Graduate Planner Scheme is open to recent graduates with an honours Level 8 degree or higher in planning, or those who are due to graduate this year and expect to achieve an honour in a Level 8 degree or higher and are entitled to work in the Republic of Ireland.
Visit Local Government Graduate Programme - Local Government Jobs for further details. Successful applicants are expected to take up positions in the autumn.
