Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• 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.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

The Work

When a person dies, his or her family contacts a Funeral Director to organise the funeral for them. Duties include collecting bodies from hospitals or the residence of the deceased (this may include embalming), and laying them to rest in a parlour of repose or church.  
 
After consulting with the family of the deceased, they make all the practical arrangements with regard to the funeral - planning the obituary notices, organising the times of the service, organising flowers and transport, and ensuring that all legal requirements are satisfied, e.g. death certificate.  
 
On the day of the funeral, Funeral Directors are responsible for everything running smoothly.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates or burial permits.
• Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services.
• Perform embalming duties, as necessary.
• Oversee the preparation and care of the remains of people who have died.
• Contact cemeteries to schedule the opening and closing of graves.
• Remove deceased remains from place of death.
• Arrange for clergy members to perform needed services.
• Provide information on funeral service options, products, or merchandise, and maintain a casket display area.
• Offer counsel and comfort to bereaved families or friends.
• Maintain financial records, order merchandise, or prepare accounts.

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

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.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Entrants to the profession would usually work as drivers or pallbearers for a period of time before assisting the Funeral Director and then arranging funerals on their own.  
 
In the past in Ireland, undertaking was run as a family business and it was almost impossible for an 'outsider' to enter the profession. Although there are no educational requirements for this course, applicants would be required to develop skills in health care, customer care, and support. 

Training & Development 

FET Centre Traineeship: Business Admin, Customer service, Healthcare, Management in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5-6 Search our FET Coursefinder

FET PLC Courses: Business Management,Healthcare, Anatomy & physiology, Community development work, Social care, Social studies, Counseling, Psychology at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search our FET PLC Coursefinder

Apprenticeship: Advanced health care NFQ level 6 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Business, Health & social care work, Counselling, Psychology, Health Science and Physiology NFQ Levels 6-8 Search our CAO coursefinder

Postgraduate Study Options Sales, Business, Management, Healthcare, Pathology NFQ level 9

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €27k - €48k

Salaries vary by employer, location , duties, and experience.

Data Source(s):
Paysale/ Glassdoor/ Eirieri/ Indeed/ Talent

Last Updated: March, 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).

Employment growth was above the national average for this occupation, although employment in 2022 were similar to 2021 levels. The CSO Census data shows that employment was spread across a large number of roles in 2022, with increases across all within this occupation since 2016.

While the numbers employed have increased since 2016, for the most part, the supply from the education and training system has not, and plans to expand training will not have an impact on the potential supply to the labour market in the short-term, given the duration of training required. This has led to issues for a number of roles within this group; for instance, there is an increasing number of students opting to study veterinary medicine in Poland due to the lack of available places to study in Ireland.

Psychologists and pharmacists were added to the employment permits Critical Skills list in June 2022 although new permits issued in 2022 primarily related to radiographers/sonographers, with a small number issued for dentists and pharmacists. With a quarter of those employed aged 55 years or older, replacement demand alone will create job opportunities in the coming years. Demand remains high across these occupations and issues with recruitment are occurring; however, as the numbers employed are too small across the roles for detailed analysis, evidence of shortages are difficult to determine.

• Irish Association of Funeral Directors

  • Mespil House, Mespil Business Centre,Sussex Road, Dublin 4
  • 0818 935 000
  • Click Here