[mikemac]

The correct person is the Returning Officer, just call up the council offices and ask their name or email address

It would be one thing if unemployed people were getting rejected and the jobs going to connected people.
But there is giving out going on here by people who didn't even apply

[V_Moth]

Originally Posted by mikemac

The correct person is the Presiding Officer, just call up the council offices and ask their name or email address

It would be one thing if unemployed people were getting rejected and the jobs going to connected people.
But there is giving out going on here by people who didn't even apply

I would have applied IF I had known that there were positions available! There was no info available beforehand.

Anyways, I will apply before the next election

[donkey balls]

They could have advertised the positions on the FAS website or in the national/local papers,Typical Ireland you have to search around to see what your entitled to imo a job like that should go to a person who is unemployed first and if the polling station cannot find a suitable person then offer it to the usual suspects teachers retired gardai etc.

[donegal11]

The jobs should be publicly advertised and given to the best candidates available not employment status. Although in saying that,if your retired or currently employed in the public service you shouldn't be able to get two paychecks from the state. And to the person who said they had trouble getting people during the boom, I NEVER saw any positions advertised and people never turned down easy money even back then.

[Gergiev]

Originally Posted by mikemac

The correct person is the Presiding Officer, just call up the council offices and ask their name or email address

That's not correct.

The person to apply to for an electoral position is the Returning Officer for the particular constituency.

The Presiding Officer is the person who is in charge of your local polling station.

In fact, you may even be doing that job (PO) yourself if your application is successful!

[mikemac]

I stand corrected

Happy to be corrected

[juuge]

Two people employed at our poling station in Wicklow took the day off work to be there, this can't be right. Wonder if they declare their extra earnings to the revenue?

[marketty]

Originally Posted by juuge

Two people employed at our poling station in Wicklow took the day off work to be there, this can't be right. Wonder if they declare their extra earnings to the revenue?

whats wrong with it? I have to say i get a bit annoyed with this attitude that people are only entitled to have one job/source of income, its a competitive world out there and nobody is 'entitled' to a job, you have to get off your arse and get after it. I have a full time job and a casual job which gives me a days work once or twice a month. I've occasionally taken a day off my full time job to work at the other job, I lose a days holiday and the second job is taxed at a massive rate, but I do it because the work is easy and i want the money. The unemployed guys who do this casual work with me take home almost twice what i do from it because they are not liable for tax and I'm happy for them.They are out grabbing whatever work they can and getting a few quid for their trouble, something more people should be doing rather than sitting at home begrudging those who chase it.
We knew this election was coming for months surely people could have taken the initiative of applying for this work rather than getting all indignant now because it wasn't offered to the unemployed? remember that while receiving jobseekers you are supposed to be actively seeking work, don't expect it to come to you. And I'm not having a go at the unemployed, my girlfriend is out of work so I know how hard it is out there. She no longer gets any dole btw because she was means tested on my income, part of the reason i'm working every hour i can. Feels stupid now she didn't think of applying for this but certainly has no problem with others employed or otherwise getting it.
O and since its a public job I'm sure the revenue know all about it.

[MarkK]

Originally Posted by gambiaman

I contacted the returning officer in Dublin over a month ago (am unemployed) and was given a job.
A quick email followed by a return call from them and they checked that i was on the unemployed register and I was given a polling place.
Out of four there, one was a public servant.

Next time, email them! It takes a second.
A very long day though (16hrs) but good money and I was delighted to get a days work.

I was a poll clerk while I was on the dole back in (I think it was) 1992.
My dole was docked by almost the same amount as I earned for the day, so they most have improved they pay.

[nommm]

Just apply to the local council and you'll probably get it, even if you have to wait a year or so to get it. I know lot's of people who applied and got the job this year. I've been doing it for 3 years and it's always a great day. I do have a job but there are a lot of things I wouldn't be able to afford during the year if it weren't for working at the elections.

If you are thinking of applying, do it asap as there is a referendum in February apparently.

And yes the earnings are declared to the revenue, they dock your tax before you receive your earnings.

[nommm]

Originally Posted by juuge

Two people employed at our poling station in Wicklow took the day off work to be there, this can't be right. Wonder if they declare their extra earnings to the revenue?

I don't see a problem. People are entitled to take holidays from work. Some use it for vacations, I don't think there's anything wrong with using your holidays to earn a bit more cash.

[irish-stew]

LOL. Every election.

I worked at my local polling station during the general elections whilst I was out of work. Out of 6 of us, at least 3 were unemployed, and at least one voter commented that she did not recognise any of the workers there from before.

A month or so ago I received a letter from the local returning officer that from any elections in the future they would be employing students and the unemployed, only keeping on one or two at each centre who had done the job before to have someone expereiced there. If I wanted the job this time, I would have had to reapply.

I went in thursday to cast my vote, and only two of the people who were working the general election were working, and not one of them, looked like a retired public service worker.

[Rojiblancos]

Originally Posted by MagicMarker

May we ask how much is 'good money'?

Fella I know did it, hes 18. Only got it coz his mother works in the council an stuck his name down for it.. Think he said he got €552 for it, was over 500 anyway.

[MagicMarker]

Originally Posted by Rojiblancos

Fella I know did it, hes 18. Only got it coz his mother works in the council an stuck his name down for it.. Think he said he got €552 for it, was over 500 anyway.

WTF!? That's ridiculous!

[Raging_Ninja]

Originally Posted by Rojiblancos

Fella I know did it, hes 18. Only got it coz his mother works in the council an stuck his name down for it.. Think he said he got €552 for it, was over 500 anyway.

Bull****.