Local Government

Local Government courses such as the A-Z of Irish Local Government and Legislative Training address key services and the principal pieces of legislation underpinning the services currently being provided by Local Authorities in Ireland.  We also offer a range of programmes for Housing Practitioners' that are part of the Housing Training Network.  These courses are listed below.  You may also wish to view the Housing Training Portal here.  This portal is managed by the Housing Agency in collaboration with service providers of training, education, resources and events for Housing Practitioners.

The Housing Practitioners' Conference 2024: Opportunities for Sustainable Housing will take place at the Mullingar Park Hotel, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath on Thursday, 25 April and Friday, 26 April 2024 (half day).

The Conference is organised as a joint-initiative between the Institute of Public Administration and The Housing Agency.

For further information or to book a place click here.

Commences:
25 & 26 April 2024
Duration:
One and a Half Day Conference

As for previous elections, the Institute of Public Administration, in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is offering training for Local Authority staff involved in the Local and European Elections.  Workshops will be delivered in a number of locations across Ireland in February and March 2024. 

The Local and European Election Workshops are designed for Returning Officers, Deputy Returning Officers, Count Supervisors and other relevant staff.

Commences:
20 March 2024 | 21 March 2024 | 16 April 2024
Duration:
One Day

The responsibility for budget management and control is being cascaded down to individual Departments and Centres within Irish Local Government.  This creates a need for those with the responsibility for these areas and Elected Members to understand the financial processes, reports and documents that they are being asked to comment upon.

This half day Budget Management and Control for Local Government course is designed to provide the support needed by detailing the system of preparing budgets, the process by which actual expenditure is calculated and the control system used whereby actual and budgetary figures are compared to produce ‘variances’.  The process of analysing variances, for the purpose of explaining under or over spending is a key aspect of this course, in the same way that is the main means of effecting budgetary control in Local Government.

Commences:
16 May 2024 | 1 October 2024 | 9 December 2024
Duration:
Half Day Online Course

The Institute of Public Administration, working in close collaboration with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage presents the Standards for Rented Houses Training Programme. This training programme is for all staff, both professional/technical and administrative, who have responsibilities related to enforcement of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019.

The programme seeks to bring about a common understanding among Inspectorate Staff, and thereby a standardisation, in interpretation and implementation of the Regulations and guidelines both within individual local authorities and across the sector generally.

Commences:
11 & 12 April 2024 | 17 & 18 September 2024
Duration:
Four Days
Accreditation:
Housing Training Network

Scenarios and Roleplay Training for Housing Practitioners is a one day programme for Official Visitors to a person/s in the person/s home. This includes Local Authority Officers, Officials and Inspectors that must have access to the persons home for official reasons.

Commences:
21 March 2024 | 30 May 2024
Duration:
One Day
Accreditation:
Housing Training Network

Courtroom Skills is a one-day intensive training course that is ideal for anyone who may be expected to give evidence in court in a professional capacity. Participants will learn about effective courtroom presentation and communication skills. Particular focus is placed on confidence building and assertive communication. 

Commences:
10 May 2024 | 21 June 2024
Duration:
One Day

Debt Collection Techniques is for staff working in Debt Management Units within the Irish Local Government Sector.

Debt Management Units have been established in Irish Local Authorities to deal with many areas of debt management including debts associated with commercial rates, housing rents and housing loans. The focus of this course centres on how staff working in these units can develop techniques to better handle and deal with the process of debt collection.

Commences:
12 April 2024 | 19 June 2024
Duration:
One Day Online Course

Understanding Company Accounts is a half day online course that is for staff working in Debt Management Units within the Irish Local Government Sector.

Debt Management Units have been established in Irish Local Authorities to deal with many areas of debt management including debts associated with commercial rates, housing rents and housing loans. The focus of this course centres on the management of debts associated with commercial rates.

Commences:
11 April 2024 | 18 June 2024
Duration:
Half Day Online Course

Understanding Local Government Finance is a specialist-led online one-day course that is designed to provide participants with a basic understanding of how an Irish Local Authority sources their income to fund day to day expenditure and capital expenditure. The course will also provide participants with an appreciation of how the budget process works in a Local Authority and an understanding of the Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet of a Local Authority. Finally, the course will examine the role of internal and external audit in a local government context.

Commences:
4 March 2024 | 18 April 2024
Duration:
One Day Online Course

The Local Government Accountant's Conference will take place on 29 February 2024 at the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. A pre-conference Networking Dinner will take place on the evening of 28 February 2024.

The Institute of Public Administration (IPA), in partnership with the Local Authority Heads of Finance supports the establishment of the Financial and Management Accountants Network, at this Conference.

Please see the Conference Programme here (pdf) for further details.

Commences:
29 February 2024
Duration:
One Day

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