DISCOVER THE PUBLIC SERVICE, IRELAND’S LARGEST EMPLOYER

STUDENT INFO HUB

To help you choose the right path for you when the time comes, we’ve packed this page with information about the public sector. We’ve gathered all the most useful resources to help you kick-start your research into this vast career sector. The public sector is HUGE which can sometimes feel a little complicated to understand. To help you get started let’s clarify a few things: It’s complex, but fascinating; let’s go.

BEFORE YOU GET STARTED


WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR?

Sectors are simply different categories of employment – the crucial difference is who pays the salaries, government or private company. Some careers and job types are exclusive to just the public sector or just the private sector, however there are many job opportunities that exist across both sectors.


WHAT IS THE PUBLIC SECTOR?

The public sector provide public services to Irish Citizens. This work touches all aspects of Irish life and so is very important work for the people of Ireland. There is a diverse range of career opportunities available, with the Government of Ireland employing over 300,000 people. The public sector is made up of:



THE GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND

which is currently made up of 18 departments including Education, Health, Housing, Transport, Environment, Justice and many more.

THE CIVIL SERVICE


support the government of the day to develop and implement its policies whilst being politically impartial.


THE PUBLIC SERVICE

includes State agencies such as HSE, An Garda Síochána and RTÉ as well as Local Authorities which you might know better as your local City or County Council.



WHAT IS THE ROLE OF PUBLICJOBS.IE?

Publicjobs.ie is the website where Civil and Public Service job opportunities are advertised. It is one of the main access routes for people interested in a career in the Civil and Public Service. Job seekers can apply to career opportunities through publicjobs.ie as they arise. Publicjobs.ie also manage the recruitment process from application to testing, interview and job offer.



HOW IS THE PUBLIC SECTOR RELEVANT TO MY CAREER PATH?

1. Options for school leavers

The public sector, through Publicjobs.ie, offers administrative roles at various levels across all government departments, nationwide. For early school leavers who are aged 17 or over, entry to the civil service is typically at the Temporary Clerical Officer and Clerical Officer level. These roles involve providing administrative support within a government department and can vary depending on the employing organisation (e.g. Department of Transport, Department of Justice, etc.). The work of a temporary or permanent Clerical Officer typically involves general clerical work such as filing, dealing with emails, reception desk duties and involvement in a variety of project work. There is an emphasis on working as part of a team in delivering important public services, whilst utilising the latest technology to provide a quality public service to the people of Ireland.



2. Options for college graduates

Entry to the Civil Service for college graduates is typically at the Executive Officer and Administrative Officer levels. Graduate opportunities within the Civil and Public Service are designed to inspire, challenge and support the next generation of Civil and Public Service leaders. As a Graduate, you will have the opportunity to work on projects that will aid the social and economic development of Ireland. If you enjoy challenging work and are committed to the concept of public service, a graduate position could be the ideal role for you.



3. Training and Development to help you climb the career ladder

Depending on the role and department, you could expect to advance your skills in a wide range of different ways, and you could have the opportunity to up-skill and develop yourself professionally through high-quality training programmes, mentoring and support systems, internal training initiatives, and many more – all to make sure you have the skills and knowledge required to succeed in a fast-paced and results-oriented role in the Public Service.



THE MOST RELEVANT INFO

Now you know the basics, it’s time to do some ‘deep dive’ research into the wider public sector. Have a look through our most relevant information to find out more about entry routes into a career in the public sector, as well as training and development. You can also check out our useful links section to investigate the full range of career opportunities available across the public sector.


Supporting Information Links

Government Departments

GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS

Government Agencies

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Local Government

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Our Public Service

OUR PUBLIC SERVICE

Article on why to conside joining the Public Sector

ARTICLE: Why you should consider a career
in the public sector

An Garda Síochána

AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA

HSE

HSE

Defence Forces

DEFENCE FORCES

Education

EDUCATION

National Ambulance Service

NATIONAL AMBULANCE SERVICE

Careers Portal

CAREERS PORTAL

Public Jobs You Tube

PUBLIC JOBS YOUTUBE


DONT MISS OUT

If a career in the public sector interests you, and you meet the eligibility criteria, register for job alerts on publicjobs.ie to hear about opportunities as they arise. Click here to register for job alerts


WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

If you have further questions, or would like to provide feedback on the information provided please get in touch by dropping us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.



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