Lifeguards

About Fingal County Council

Fingal is a highly attractive place to live, work, visit and do business. It comprises a geographical area of 450 sq.km stretching from Balbriggan in the north, to Blanchardstown in the west and to Howth in the east. The area is defined by the diversity of its landscape and settlement patterns with rural, urban and suburban locations all rolled into one county. There is 88kms of coastline, three large protected estuaries and salt marsh habitats and 13 major beaches.

Fingal County Council is one of the county’s major local employers and currently employs approximately 1,600 staff. The Council is mandated to deliver a diverse range of functions and services which can be broadly described under the headings of the provision of physical and social infrastructure, housing, economic and tourism development, community development, recreation and amenity services and the management of the planning and environmental regulatory framework. The role of the County Council as provided for in law is to represent, lead and serve the communities of Fingal.

1.    Duties

You may be assigned to any beach during your employment. Additional duties may be assigned to you by a designated person appointed by Fingal County Council and duties may change from time to time. You will be provided with a list of duties as part of your induction training.

·       To provide supervision of activities at public bathing places in order to prevent drowning accidents.

·       To provide emergency rescue service in the case of accidents.

·       To render first aid when possible.

·       To provide advice to the public regarding facilities, tides, hazards, etc.

·       To ensure that from the start of the duty period that the appropriate flags are flown and are changed or re-located as necessary during the day.

·       To inspect all lifesaving and first aid equipment on arrival for duty to ensure that adequate stocks are available and in good working order.

·       To inspect the patrol area and where possible to remove any dangerous or offensive items. If the lifeguard cannot deal with the matter he should immediately report to his supervisor.

·       The names and attendance times of all guards on duty.

·       The general weather and tidal conditions.

·       What flags were flown and when they were changed during the day.

·       Any information which may assist the Authorities in improving the service.

·       To complete all appropriate rescue and first aid forms.

2.    Qualifications and requirements of the post

CHARACTER

Each candidate must be of good character.

HEALTH

Each candidate must be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. 

EDUCATION, TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, ETC.

Candidates must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

(a)   Beach Lifeguard Certificate as awarded by Irish Water Safety, RLSS or equivalent.

(b)   Applicants renewing their Beach Lifeguard Certificate may also apply.

(c)   Applicants in the process of obtaining your Cert can apply, however, you will not be able to sign your contract until you submit a copy of your Cert.

3.    Particulars of Employment

NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT

The post is temporary and may be whole-time or part-time to commence on Saturday 31st May, 2025 and cease on Sunday 31st August 2025.

RATE OF PAY

Successful candidates will be paid at the 1st point of the Lifeguard salary scale which is €15.89 per hour. An additional weekend differential rate is paid for working at weekends.

Salaries will be paid fortnightly by means of a credit transfer to a financial institution. Statutory deductions will be made as appropriate.

HEALTH

For the purpose of satisfying the requirement as to health it will be necessary for successful candidates, before they are employed, to undergo a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the Local Authority.

Recruitment

A local authority may decide, by reason of the number of persons seeking admission to a competition, to carry out a shortlisting procedure. The number of persons to be invited, in these circumstances, to interview shall be determined by the local authority from time to time, having regard to the likely number of vacancies to be filled.

Selection will be by means of an interview conducted by or on behalf of the local authority. Candidates will be required to pay any expenses incurred by them in attending the interview.

Panels may be formed on the basis of such interviews. Candidates whose names are on a panel and who satisfy the local authority that they possess the qualification declared for the post and that they are otherwise suitable for employment may, within the life of the panel, be employed as appropriate vacancies arise.

The local authority shall require a person to whom employment is offered to take up such employment within a period of not more than 6 weeks and if he or she fails to take up the employment within such period or such longer period as the local authority in its absolute discretion may determine, the local authority shall not employ the person.