Chaplain vacancy at UCC may be hit by jobs embargo

THE country’s second-largest university is seeking a new Catholic chaplain but might not be able to fill it because of a public service jobs embargo.

University College Cork (UCC) advertised the post this week and is seeking to appoint somebody with a degree in theology, pastoral care, spirituality or chaplaincy. But filling the job – which has a salary of between €50,000 and €60,000 – will be subject to the same strict criteria applied to all third-level appointments because of a recruitment ban in the public service.

A moratorium has been placed on the filling of any vacancies in third-level colleges, or the creation of new posts under the headings of teaching/academic or technical, administrative and other services. Under the employment control framework circulated by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in July, the main exceptions will be allowed for academic posts and for only up to one-third of any such vacancies.