Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• 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.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.

The Work

In the HSE Occupational Therapists are part of a clinical workforce called Health & Social Care Professionals, who work together with medical and nursing colleagues as a team in the delivery of clinical, therapeutic and social care.

They help people to do the everyday things they want to do and need to do when faced with illness, disability or changing life events.

They work with people who are physically or mentally disabled. They help their clients to maximise their independence at home and in their working and social lives.  
 
First, clients are assessed using various physical, psychological, perceptual or cognitive tests. This provides the Occupational Therapist with an understanding of the client's capabilities and potential.  
 
The Occupational Therapist builds up a general picture of the client's needs by consulting other professionals, such as physiotherapists and social workers. They also have access to the doctor's report.  
 
Then the Occupational Therapist and the client decide together which skills are needed in order to maximise independence. These needs are determined by the client's condition and anticipated lifestyle. For instance, physically impaired clients may need help in strengthening muscles, co-ordinating movements and improving stamina.  
 
If someone has had an accident, they may need to re-learn basic 'living skills' (e.g. washing, cooking). Occupational Therapists help people return to work as well, by training them in simulated work situations to improve their confidence, for example.  
 
Occupational Therapists often visit people in their homes, to advise on alterations that will make independent living easier and more comfortable. For example, the adjustment of toilet seats or work surfaces may enable elderly people to live at home safely. Occupational Therapists will also arrange for extra support for clients (e.g. home help services).  
 
People with mental health problems are often supported by an Occupational Therapist in their own home. They may need therapy for anxiety or depression, which prevents them from going out to work. The Occupational Therapist builds up their self-confidence by improving their social and coping skills.  
 
This may be done by practising work-related skills or through assertiveness training. Communication skills may be developed through activities such as group discussion or working on the preparation of a meal with other clients.  

Where Will I Work?

As an Occupational Therapist, you provide autonomous and collaborative care for individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, in all care settings. You may work with individual clients or with groups. You could work in a hospital, community service, disability service, people's own home, mental health service, care home or rehabilitation centres. 

Occupational Therapists develop specialised expertise in areas such as physical rehabilitation, mental health, intellectual disability, paediatrics or services for the elderly.

The HSE is the biggest employer in Ireland for this occupation. Further information from the HSE on the duties and skills for this occupation can be found here. Some Occupational Therapists work in private practice or other healthcare settings.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyse medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
• Complete and maintain necessary records.
• Plan, organise, and conduct occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community settings to help rehabilitate those impaired because of illness, injury or psychological or developmental problems.
• Plan and implement programs and social activities to help patients learn work or school skills and adjust to handicaps.
• Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities.
• Evaluate patients' progress and prepare reports that detail progress.
• Train caregivers in providing for the needs of a patient during and after therapy.
• Lay out materials such as pussles, scissors and eating utensils for use in therapy, and clean and repair these tools after therapy sessions.
• Consult with rehabilitation team to select activity programs or coordinate occupational therapy with other therapeutic activities.
• Design and create, or requisition, special supplies and equipment, such as splints, braces, and computer-aided adaptive equipment.

Further Information

• Occupational Therapist - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Occupational Therapist - from: GradIreland

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

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.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

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.

Training & Development Pathways

FET PLC Courses: Occupational Therapy Assistant, Occupational Therapy Studies at NFQ Level 5 Search FET PLC Courses

Higher Education CAO Entry: Health Science with Occupational Therapy Studies, Occupational Therapy NFQ 6-8 Search CAO courses

Professional Development 

Postgraduate study: MSc Occupational Therapy (Professional Qualification), Occupational Therapy - Research,  Occupational Therapy - Structured at NFQ levels 9-10

AOTI Assoc of Occupational Therapists Ireland

CORU

Last Updated: March, 2025

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €36k - €83k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
HSE.ie/ Indeed/ Glassdoor

Last Updated: July, 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 (2025).

Employment in this occupation has been growing annually since 2022, with an additional 1,200 persons employed since 2023. Over three-quarters of those employed were women and almost a third were working part-time.

Employment permits issued spanned various therapist roles (e.g. physio, occupational, speech & language) and chiropractors. The delivery of Sláintecare, particularly in terms of community care and mental health services, will require additional staffing in these occupations as will the Education Therapy Service outlined above.

The number of awards relating to therapy and rehabilitation have remained stable in recent years, at approximately 1,200 awards annually between 2019 and 2023; with enrolments levels largely unchanged in recent years, output is not expected to increase in the short-term.

A new tertiary occupational therapy degree was announced in May 2025, although the number of places is unlikely to be sufficient to meet demand.

Although demand is evident, the numbers employed in each of the therapy categories are too small to allow for detailed analysis and to determine the extent to which shortages exist. A new workforce plan, as detailed in the Programme for Government, will help to determine the extent to which shortages are occurring in these roles.

Shortage:

Inconclusive

• CORU - Regulating Health & Social Care Professionals

  • Infinity Building, George’s Court, George’s Lane, Smithfield, Dublin 7, D07 E98Y
  • (01) 293 3160
  • [email protected]/ [email protected]/ [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

  • AOTI Office 201 18 Herbert Street Dublin 2 D02 FK19
  • 01-8748136
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here