The IPA is the Irish public sector management development agency.  It was founded in 1957 by a group of public servants and its aim is to promote the study, and improve the standard, of public administration; to develop a sense of vocation in public servants and to foster understanding between the public and public servants. 

The Institute currently offers a wide range of services, which broadly cover education, training and development, research and publishing.  Our services are delivered mainly to clients in the Irish Public Service, but we have a strong reputation and demand for our services internationally also. 

The Institute is a recognised College of the National University of Ireland.  Primary degree, diploma and certificate programmes are offered through distance education or through lectures at the IPA’s Lansdowne Road, Dublin campus or one of a number of the third level, Institutes of Technology, outside Dublin.  Postgraduate programmes are also offered up to Doctorate level. 

For fifty years the Institute has provided an extensive range of training and development programmes for management and staff of public sector bodies and publicly funded institutions.  Some 300 short-term courses are provided each year in the Institute’s Training and Education Centre based in Dublin or in regional or local venues.  

The Institute’s interdisciplinary, professional training staff includes functional specialists in areas such as general management, public finance and accounting, human resource management and information systems, as well as sartorial experts and practitioners concentrating on, for example, local government, health services or the civil service. 

The Training and Development Division offers an innovative suite of accredited certificate and diploma programmes for the Irish public sector in the following areas: Management Development, Managing Change, Project Management, Personal Effectiveness & Managing Performance, Management of Modern Public Service Delivery,  Finance and Accountancy, Audit, Public and Strategic Procurement, Human Resource Management, Organisational and Workplace Mediation, Computer Studies.  We also offer sector specific accredited programmes, each providing a comprehensive understanding of role, functions and key legislation related to the Health Sector, Civil Service and State Agencies and Local Government. 

IPA provides a range of tailored supports to public service managers by bringing integrated expertise to bear on business problems.  By drawing on our management training, consultancy and advisory services, education and research expertise we can assemble the team best suited to address our client’s needs.  We have recently supported and collaborated with client organisations in addressing management challenges in the following areas: 

The Evaluation, Design and Implementation of Business Processes

• Strategic Reviews and Business Planning
• Team Facilitation
• Executive Coaching
• Governance and Accountability Frameworks
• Implementation of HRM Modernisation
• Technical Support