Summer Student Scheme 2026

Description

All candidates for the Summer Student Scheme 2026 must be a minimum of 18 years of age on the closing date i.e. 30th April, 2026.

Shortlisting and Recruitment:-

The local authority may decide, by reason of the number of persons seeking admission to a competition, to carry out a shortlisting procedure.

The local authority may, at its discretion, decide that such shortlisting will be based on the year of study of applicants, with a priority accorded to students who are in a PLC programme or have just completed a first-year programme in the academic year 2025/2026.

Shortlisting may also be necessary to fulfil a particular set of skills requested by certain departments.

The shortlisted applicants may then be called for interview having regard to the likely number of vacancies to be filled.

Duration and Rates of Pay:

Summer Student Placements are for a period of 6 weeks and will be in three blocks:

Block A: Start date 1st June 2026. End date 10th July 2026.

Block B: Start date 29th June 2026. End date 7th August 2026 (library placements only)

Block C: Start date 13th July 2026. End Date 21st August 2026.

You must be available to start on your allotted start date.

You are required to work a 35 hour week. Start and finish times, breaks and lunchtimes are determined by the supervisors to the area in which you are assigned. Some roles are office based while others are outdoor roles.

Rate of pay will be in line with the maximum rate of National Minimum Wage Order 2026, i.e. E14.15

Assignments:- All assignments are at the sole discretion of the Council.

Portlaoise/Portarlington Municipal Districts (Outdoor)

Various outdoor duties – · Environmental enhancement works including Litter Picking, Weeding, Maintenance of Flower Beds and Flower Displays etc. within MD area. Please note hours of work may vary but generally from 8am to 4.30pm.

Relevant Courses: Horticulture Forestry, Landscape Design & Management, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science or similar.

Library Services

Duties as assigned by Senior Executive Librarian. May include administration duties or assistance at various events held during summer months.

Relevant Courses: Humanities, Early Childhood Education, Teaching, Drama, English, Digital Skills.

Please note that successful applicants can be assigned to any library in the county and may be required to work evenings and Saturdays.

Sports & Leisure

Duties assigned would include supporting department in delivery of various programmes during the busy summer period.

Relevant Courses: Health & Sports Science, Sport & Recreation Management, Physical Education or Coaching or similar

Planning/Town Regeneration

Various admin duties supporting Planning Technical, Regeneration and Administrative teams.

Relevant Courses: Planning, Computer Science, Administration, among others.

Finance

Various admin duties supporting motor tax, accounts payable, loans, rates sections during holiday period.

Relevant Courses: Accountancy, I.T., Business, Administration or similar

MyPay Payroll & Superannuation Shared Services Centre

Duties assigned would include supporting department sections and our IT contractor in IT hardware and software configuration, testing and setting up of software systems and solutions, troubleshooting connectivity and access, user access maintenance.

Relevant Courses: Information Technology, Computer Technician, Computer Systems & Networks, or similar.

Tourism

Various admin duties supporting seasonal demands of section.

Relevant Courses: Tourism, Marketing or similar.

Information Technology

Duties assigned would include hardware deliveries and installation, helpdesk queries, software upgrades, basic printer maintenance.

Relevant Courses: Computer Science, Cyber Security, Information Systems and Information Technology, Website development or similar.

Housing

General administration of rents and property management and other duties.

Relevant Courses: Business, Administration, Social Work, Social Studies or similar.

Climate, Community& Environment Departments

· Landfill and Civic Amenity placement

· Wastewater misconnections project in Kilminchy

· General admin and prep for Climate Action events

· Burial Grounds Plotbox admin project

Relevant Courses: Science, Ecology, Environmental Studies, Climate Change or similar

Where possible, successful applicants will be assigned to work locations near their home address, however, if this is not possible, you must have access to transport to travel to your assigned work location.

CLOSING DATE: 1PM Thursday 30th April 2026

In order to process your application, it may be necessary for Laois County Council to collect personal data from you. Such information will be processed with the Local Authority's privacy statement which is available to view Here and the privacy statement for the Summer Student Application 2026 -

NOTE

All Sections on application must be completed

After submitting your completed application, please be sure to check your 'Spam/Junk' mail for an acknowledgement email.

Electronic applications will be acknowledged automatically. Please keep this acknowledgement as proof of delivery of your application. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact the HR Department at hr@laoiscoco.ie

Eligibility

Priority accorded to third level students who are in a PLC programme or have just completed first year in the academic year 2025/2026 and who possess the relevant specified courses.