Office of Public Works

Wednesday, 30 April 2025

Questions (52)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

52. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of WTE qualified horticulturists, by grade employed by OPW as of 22 April 2025; and if he will provide same figures as of 31 December 2022, in tabular form. [21318/25]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

The number of qualified horticulturists employed by the OPW is set out in the table below:

OPW Gardener Grade (22 April 2025)	Number
Craft Gardener	47
Chargehand Gardener (Head Gardener)	18
Craft Foreperson (Horticultural)	6
Foreperson Grade 1 (Horticultural)	2
Total	73

OPW Gardener Grade (31 Dec 2022)	Number
Craft Gardener	52
Chargehand Gardener (Head Gardener)	24
Craft Foreperson (Horticultural)	7
Foreperson Grade 1 (Horticultural)	3
Total	86

There is currently a competition to fill 6 x Chargehand (Head) Gardener vacancies with interviews scheduled for mid-May. There is a further Craft Gardener competition which will be launched following successful completion of the Chargehand Gardener competition when the accurate number of backfills and vacancies have been identified.