The Certificate in Local Government is a hugely popular programme that has, for many years, played a central role in educating staff from all parts of the Irish local government system. It is taught by national experts in Irish local government and by experienced managers who work within the local government sector. It is an explicitly introductory programme, one that seeks to provide students with a grounding in the main laws, policies, and practices that determine contemporary local government operations. It addresses such key topics as how local government is financed, the role that elected members play in a local authority, and the responsibilities local authorities have in areas like housing and planning.
On completing this programme, students can progress to the Diploma in Local Government and explore the topics they have been introduced to in greater depth. From there, they can directly enter the third year of the the IPA’s BA (Hons) in Public Management, which has a local government stream.
Note: The application deadline for this programme is July 31.