Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Analysing Data or Information Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

The Work

Designing towns and cities to include attractive buildings, vibrant public spaces and bustling shopping centres

Working to protect the countryside, trees, hedgerows, forests, grasslands, waterways, rivers and shorelines

Creating policies for managing traffic and providing sustainable solutions to our transport needs

Managing development and helping to create affordable housing

Playing a role in regenerating socially-deprived areas and creating new jobs

Helping to bring back historic buildings into sympathetic use

Improving energy efficiency and cutting carbon emissions in homes, factories and businesses

Engaging communities to have a say in how their living space is developed and protected to improve their quality of life.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, soning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
• Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.
• Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.
• Hold public meetings with government officials, social scientists, lawyers, developers, the public, or special interest groups to formulate, develop, or address issues regarding land use or community plans.
• Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects.
• Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.
• Conduct field investigations, surveys, impact studies, or other research to compile and analyse data on economic, social, regulatory, or physical factors affecting land use.
• Evaluate proposals for infrastructure projects or other development for environmental impact or sustainability.
• Discuss with planning officials the purpose of land use projects, such as transportation, conservation, residential, commercial, industrial, or community use.
• Keep informed about economic or legal issues involved in soning codes, building codes, or environmental regulations.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

There are a variety of suitable undergraduate programmes and courses to develop your pathway to a career in planning. 

Training & Development 

FET Centre PLC Courses: Landscape Architecture, Architectural Technology, Planning & policy, Planning & Environmental management NFQ Level  5-6  Search FET PLC Courses

Higher Education CAO Entry: Architecture, Architectural Technology, Planning & policy, Spatial Planning, Environmental Management NFQ Level  7-8 Search CAO courses

Postgraduate study options:  Urban Planning, Conservation & Planning, Urban Design & Planning NFQ level 9.  

IPI- Irish PLanning Institute Accredited courses 

Professional Development 

Town planning support can work in a variety of settings Local Authorities or in Private companies in line with accreditation & CPD with the IPI-Irish Planning Institute. 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €33k - €100k

Salaries vary by employer (state/ private), role, duties, shift pattern, location, and experience. 

Data Source(s):
PAS/ County Councils/ LGMA/ Morgan McKinley/ Azon/ Sigmar/ Indeed

Last Updated: August, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The annual average employment growth was above average for this occupation, although employment levels declined marginally between 2021 and 2022. New employment permits issued in 2022 related to quantity surveyors and issues with recruitment of quantity surveyors were also evident in both the Skills for Growth and Recruitment Agency Survey data.

The supply of quantity surveyors has increased since 2016, with 336 awards in 2021 in higher education. The demand for these skills is expected to be sustained in the coming years, although the tasks may be incorporated into other occupations e.g. structural engineer. With supply increasing, issues with recruitment may lessen in future years. Demand for architects and town planners is likely to continue, although the data does not currently point to issues in relation to sourcing suitably qualified personnel for these roles. 

• Engineers Ireland

  • 22 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge Dublin 4
  • (01) 665 1300
  • Click Here

• Irish Planning Institute

  • Ground Floor, Fitzwilliam House, 6 Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 TX34
  • 01-8788630
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• The Royal Town Planning Institute (Irish Branch)

  • 38 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
  • 089 251 5649
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here