Local Government

Commences: September 2024.

The cost of the programme is €3,600 per annum (includes all matriculation and examination fees), payable in one or two instalments.

Application Deadline: September 2024.

How to Apply:
1. Go to www.ipa.ie.
2. Download the programme application form and complete it in full.
3. Email that form, along with all the items below, to undergrad@ipa.ie, with the subject heading: Application for: Name of Programme. The items below should be scanned and included as attachments in this email:
- A passport-type photograph.
- A scan of your passport, driver’s license, or birth certificate.
- The fee for the programme or confirmation, including a PO number, that fees will be pad by an employer.
- A scan of your Leaving Certificate or relevant qualification (only if you are under 21).

APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE PROCESSED UNLESS ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTATION IS INCLUDED.

The Programme
The BA (Hons) - Local Government is a four-year, part-time programme that combines study of subjects critical to contemporary public management with subjects particular to local government. In addition to learning about the economic, legal and HR issues that affect public administration broadly, students obtain specialised knowledge about such matters as the powers of local authorities, local government finance and local government systems outside Ireland. This degree programme includes two interim awards – at Certificate and Diploma level.

Is this Programme for You?
This honours degree often attracts staff from local authorities who want to obtain a third-level qualification while remaining in full-time employment. As students take a mix of common subjects and subjects specific to local government, they are able to understand the issues facing local authorities in relation to broader economic and management theories and practices.

INTERIM AWARDS:
Year One – Certificate in Public Management.
Year Two – Diploma in Public Management.

Year 1 – Certificate in Public Management:
The first year is both a stand-alone qualification – Certificate in Public Management – and part of the four-year degree programme.

Economics:
This introductory-level course explains the main theories and principles of economics. No prior knowledge of economics is presumed. The course covers both micro- and macroeconomics and addresses such topics as the laws of supply and demand, how market prices are reached, and competition.

Law:
Public servants must understand the fundamentals of the legal system. This course focuses on the fundamentals, explaining the Irish legal system and the main provisions of the Irish Constitution. Students explore, among other topics, the structure of the court system, practice and procedure in the courts and the rights that the Constitution affords citizens.

Politics, Government and Public Administration
This course is divided into two parts. The first is largely concerned with the institutions of government and the Irish political system. The Irish institutions and systems are compared to those in other countries. The second part of the course focuses on Ireland’s system of public and social administration, explaining how the civil service is organised and the management of social welfare services, healthcare, education and housing.

Principles of Management:
This course provides a solid grounding in the key principles of modern management theory. It explains the origins of contemporary management science and details the most important elements of management, including leadership, HRM and change management.

Year 2 – Diploma in Public Management:
The second year is both a stand-alone qualification – Diploma in Public Management – and part of the four-year degree programme.

Social Policy
This course explores key areas of social service provision in Ireland, including health, education, housing and social welfare, as well as the development of the welfare state in Ireland and internationally. It also reviews the role of the voluntary sector, equality policy, and ‘life cycle’ policies. It covers trends in social services and compares the approach in Ireland with that in other countries.

Economics:
This course builds on the fundamentals of economics explored in the Certificate year by exploring both micro and macroeconomics in greater depth. Students will learn about the economic rules and theories that relate to the operation of markets, the distribution of wealth, the allocation of resources, labour supply and inflation.

Organisation and Management:
An organisation’s structure is a determining factor in its operation. This course explores current thinking on organisational structure and the role of management in the creation and maintenance of the most appropriate structure. Among the specific topics addressed are the different schools of organisation theory, how effective organisations are designed, the significance of the internal culture to an organisation’s work.

European Studies:
Ireland’s membership of the EU is plainly of huge importance to public management. This course explains the key facts of EU membership, addressing the history of the EU, the power and responsibilities of its institutions, the decision-making process, key EU policies, and different perspectives on the EU’s development and reform.

Year 3:
Local Government and Finance:
This course covers a number of key themes in local government reform and explains how local authorities obtain the funds necessary for their operation. It considers, among other things, some of the newer roles of local authorities working with others at local level. On the financial side, the course considers efficiency reforms, the growth of grants, funding options and the capital expenditure of local authorities.

Economics:
This year’s course focuses on public sector economics, a field critical to public servants at various grades. The topics addressed include economic growth, forecasting and planning, the finances of central and local government and the preparation of budgets.

Financial Management:
This course provides students with a clear understanding of standard accounting techniques and the proper management of an organisation’s finances. It is designed for those with no background in accounting.

Administrative Law:
Administrative law is a public law subject that deals with the lawful exercise of power by government and state agencies. Students of this course will examine the laws regarding the civil service, the separation of powers, judicial review and legal compliance.

Year 4:
Comparative Local Government:
This course compares the system of local government that pertains in Ireland with that in other countries. Using both a thematic approach and case studies of specific examples from abroad, it provides a comparative analysis of such key issues as local government finance, duties, citizen participation, and leadership.

Economics
The study of economics in the final year of the degree turns to economic policy and policy analysis. The course explores such topics as industrial and regional economic policy, economic integration, globalisation and issues around financing and control.

Strategic Management
Strategic management is the study of how organisations meet their objectives and effectively respond to change. This course focuses on strategic management in the Irish public sector, but it covers concepts common to both the public and private sector.

Public Policy-Making
This module examines different ways of understanding policy-making processes, the different influences, and the actors involved. It reviews discrete ‘stages’ within the policymaking process, such as framing and agenda setting, policy formulation, and implementation, as well as themes such as public service reform. Significant attention is paid to the different influences and constraints that exist on policy making and the implementation of policy, such as the role played by ideology, globalization, and international relations.

Students submit assignments and sit examinations.

All Correspondence and enquiries should be address to:
Undergraduate Office,
Whitaker School of Government and Management,
Institute of Public Administration,
57-61 Lansdowne Road,
Dublin D04 TC62, Ireland
Telephone: +353 (01) 240 3600
Email: undergrad@ipa.ie
www.ipa.ie

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