Government of Ireland - Public Sector

Public Sector

The Government is a significant employer in the state, due to its control of the civil service, the public service, and the state-sponsored bodies. These three sectors are often called the "public sector". These bodies are managed in different ways. The civil service features clearly-defined and standard hierarchies of management, while among the public services, a sponsoring minister or the Minister for Finance may appoint a board or commission. The state's commercial activities are normally managed through the state-sponsored bodies, which are organised in a similar fashion to private companies.

A June 2005 report on public sector employment, shows that the numbers employed in the public sector stood at 350,100. By sector, there were 38,700 in the civil service, 254,100 in the public service and 57,300 in state-sponsored bodies. The total workforce of the state was 1,857,400 that year. Thus, the public sector comprised approximately 20% of the total workforce.