The purpose of Local Government is to enable people at local level to provide services for themselves, to exercise some control over their affairs and to make decisions through the democratic process.
Local Residents elect individuals to represent them on the various authorities. Elected representatives make decisions on behalf of their constituents and also levy local taxes to fund service provision. There are 1627 directly elected local government members.
Local Authorities carry out a broad range of activities that make a significant contribution to the physical, cultural, social and environmental development of their communities. Currently, there is a total of 118 Local Authorities.
These services include:
Physical Planning and Development, Roads, Sanitary Services, Housing, Waste Management, Fire Protection, Libraries and Museums, Environmental Protection, Parks, Amenities and Arts.
There is a close working relationship between Local Authorities and various resident and community groups in the preparation of Urban and Rural Renewal Schemes and other local action plans.
Local authorities, in providing communities with over 100 different services, are at the very frontline of the Irish public service. Some of these services include:
- library books
- firemen
- bottle banks
- litter-wardens
- free internet access
- engineers
- cycle lanes
- scientists
- quality bus corridors
- community wardens
- public parks
- vets
- swimming pools
- social workers
- leisure centres
- accountants
- the community centre
- the lollipop lady
- grants for your kids football team
- traffic wardens
- local arts grants
- heritage officers
- your drivers license
- street-sweepers
- harbours & marinas
- accountants
- planning applications
- park rangers
- museums
- construction workers
- clean water
- lifeguards
- public lighting
- architects
- green flags
- Irish language officers
- rubbish collection
- civic defence
- your dog’s license
- social inclusion units
- higher education grants
- industrial parks
- planners
- school dinners
- IT experts
- housing the homeless
- equality officers
- fighting poverty
- general operatives
- affordable housing
- artists-in-residence
- pollution control
- housing inspectors
- local concerts and festivals
- environmental awareness officers
- broadband networks
- scientists
- major emergency plans
- tourism promotion officers
- protecting the environment
- refuse collectors
- art galleries
- researchers
- building bridges
- dog wardens
- …..to name a few.
While it may vary from local authority to local authority the services listed above and all services delivered are categorised under 8 different programme areas;
- Housing & Building
- Roads, Transportation & Safety
- Sanitary Services
- Development Incentives and Controls
- Environmental Protection
- Recreation and Amenity
- Education, Health & Welfare
- Corporate Affairs
A career in local government involves working with people who care about providing essential services in their local communities. Because the work of local government is so varied, the range of potential careers open to job-seekers is extremely broad. Most council employ engineers, town planners, architects, environmental awareness officers, heritage and arts officers, administrators, firemen and women, craftsworkers and construction staff, IT project officers, social workers. The list is as lengthy as it is varied. |
