Law & the Administration of Justice

Commences: September 2024.

The cost of the programme is €3,600 per annum (includes all matriculation and examination fees), payable in one or two instalments.

Application Deadline: September 2024.

How to Apply:
1. Go to www.ipa.ie.
2. Download the programme application form and complete it in full.
3. Email that form, along with all the items below, to undergrad@ipa.ie, with the subject heading: Application for: Name of Programme. The items below should be scanned and included as attachments in this email:
- A passport-type photograph.
- A scan of your passport, driver’s license, or birth certificate.
- The fee for the programme or confirmation, including a PO number, that fees will be pad by an employer.
- A scan of your Leaving Certificate or relevant qualification (only if you are under 21).

APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE PROCESSED UNLESS ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTATION IS INCLUDED.

The Programme
This is a four–year, part–time programme that combines subjects critical to contemporary public management in all sectors with those especially relevant to law and the administration of justice. In addition to learning about the economic, legal and HR issues that affect public administration broadly, students obtain specialised knowledge about such matters as EU law, criminology and penology and law enforcement. This highly–regarded qualification includes two interim awards – at Certificate and Diploma level.

Is this Programme for You?
This programme has wide appeal, but it is particularly relevant for:
• Members of An Garda Síochána
• Prison staff
• Other public servants working in the administration of justice and related fields.

INTERIM AWARDS:
Year One: Certificate in Public Management.
Year Two: Diploma in Public Management.

Year 1 – Certificate in Public Management:
The first year is both a stand–alone qualification – Certificate in Public Management – and the first stage of the four–year degree programme.

Economics
This introductory–level course explains the main theories and principles of economics. No prior knowledge of economics is presumed. The course covers both micro and macro– economics and addresses such topics as the laws of supply and demand, how market prices are reached and competition.

Law
Public servants must understand the fundamentals of the legal system. This course focuses on the fundamentals, explaining the Irish legal system and the main provisions of the Irish Constitution. Students explore, among other topics, the structure of the court system, practice and procedure in the courts and the rights that the Constitution affords citizens.

Politics, Government and Public Administration
This course is divided into two parts. The first is largely concerned with the institutions of government and the Irish political system. The second focuses on Ireland’s system of public and social administration, explaining how the civil service is organised and the management of social welfare services, healthcare, education and housing.

Principles of Management
This course provides a solid grounding in the key principles of modern management theory. It explains the origins of contemporary management science and details the most important elements of management, including leadership, HRM and change management.

Year 2 – Diploma in Public Management:
The second year is both a stand–alone qualification – Diploma in Public Management – and the second stage of the four–year degree programme.

European Law
EU law plays a hugely significant role in public management in Ireland. This course explains the sources of EU law, the main legal instruments that the EU uses, the EU institutions that uphold the law, the fundamental freedoms that EU law protects and how EU law relates to Irish domestic law.

Social Policy
This course explores key areas of social service provision in Ireland, including health, education, housing and social welfare, as well as the development of the welfare state in Ireland and internationally. It also reviews the role of the voluntary sector, equality policy, and ‘life cycle’ policies, including policies addressing children, older people and those with a disability. The module covers trends in social services and compares the approach in Ireland with that in other countries.

Economics
This course builds on the fundamentals of economics explored in the Certificate year by exploring both micro and macroeconomics in greater depth. Students will learn about the economic rules and theories that relate to the operation of markets, the distribution of wealth, the allocation of resources, labour supply and inflation.

Organisation and Management
An organisation’s structure is a determining factor in its operation. This course explores current thinking on organisational structure and the role of management in the creation and maintenance of the most appropriate structure. Among the specific topics addressed are the different schools of organisation theory, the design of effective organisations and the significance of the internal culture to an organisation’s work.

Year 3:
Criminology and Penology
This course explores the facts about crime in Ireland and elsewhere in the first decades of the 21st century. It examines what the available statistics tell us about crime and discusses the various theories that have been advanced to explain criminal behaviour. It also addresses contemporary theory on penology.

Administrative Law
Administrative law is a public law subject that deals with the lawful exercise of power by government and state agencies. It seeks, in short, to establish the manner in which public bodies can affect the lives of citizens. Students will examine the laws regarding the civil service, the separation of powers, judicial review and legal compliance.

Economics
This year’s course focuses on public sector economics, a field that is plainly critical to public servants at various grades. The topics addressed include economic growth, forecasting and planning, the finances of central and local government and the principles of taxation.

Financial Management
This course aims to provide students with a clear understanding of standard accounting techniques and the proper management of an organisation’s finances. Designed for those who do not possess a background in accounting, it addresses, among other things, double-entry book-keeping, how profits are measured and the regulations governing financial statements and disclosure.

Year 4:
Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice
This course examines how justice is administered in Ireland and related laws. It explores the general principles of criminal law, including the presumption of innocence. It also assesses the legislation that governs the actions of An Garda Síochána, the provisions of the Constitution relating to arrest and trial by law and efforts to balance the needs of society with civil liberties.

Employment Law
A very significant body of law regulates the employment relationship. This course explains and analyses that body of law, discussing such key topics as the employment contract, the legislation that protects employees, equality in the workplace, health and safety law and the law regulating the employment of non–nationals.

Strategic Management
Strategic Management is the study of how organisations meet their objectives and effectively respond to change. This course focuses on strategic management in the Irish public sector, but it covers concepts common to both public and private sector organisations.

Public Policy–Making
This module examines different ways of understanding policy making processes, the different influences, and the actors involved. It reviews discrete ‘stages’ within the policy-making process, such as framing and agenda setting, policy formulation, and implementation, as well as themes such as public service reform.

Students submit assignments and sit examinations in each year.

All Correspondence and enquiries should be address to:
Undergraduate Office,
Whitaker School of Government and Management,
Institute of Public Administration,
57-61 Lansdowne Road,
Dublin D04 TC62, Ireland
Telephone: +353 (01) 240 3600
Email: undergrad@ipa.ie
www.ipa.ie

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