Two candidates have been shortlisted to succeed John Fitzgerald as Dublin city manager, The Irish Times has learned. They are Cork city manager Joe Gavin and Fingal county manager John Tierney.
Mr Fitzgerald, who is credited with transforming Dublin City Council, steps down on June 16th after 10 years in office.
His job was advertised by the Public Appointments Commission last April, with a salary in the range of €150,000 to €200,000.
The city council is seeking a new chief executive who "will consolidate the progress achieved over the past decade, to lead the city forward as well as motivate a workforce of 6,500 and manage a budget of €2 billion.
There were more than 20 applicants for the post, including some from the private sector.
Most of the applicants were senior local authority officials, including several from the top level of the city administration.
Mr Gavin, who is in his late fifties, has been Cork city manager for the past seven years. Previously, he served as Galway city manager.
Mr Tierney, who is in his mid-40s, succeeded him in Galway before moving to Fingal last year.
Both are to be interviewed again next week by a board consisting of Niall Callan, secretary general of the Department of the Environment; Seán Dorgan, chief executive of IDA Ireland; Dorothy Scally, a human resources specialist, and Mr Fitzgerald himself.
It is anticipated that the name of his successor will be announced next Friday.
Mr Fitzgerald has been appointed as chairman of the development agency that will oversee the relocation of Dublin Institute of Technology to Grangegorman.
