I know my little sister got work experience in the actual forensic labs in the phoenix park. I’d say this is quite a popular one so apply now, get some sort of contact. With the popularity of shows like CSI, a lot of people are deluded as to what actually happens in the forensics labs. I now work with someone who had previously worked in the forensics labs. Shows like that drive her nuts, they have none of the massive resources shown on the shows and cases never get solved that quickly. In real life these things take months, even years. My sister did say it was very boring except for possibly the ballistics lab where they got to play with the guns. She spent a day in each of the areas, archives, ballistics and some others. Think they only took her on for a week in total.
As an aside I think transition year and the work experience is a brilliant idea. I always wanted to be a vet but after two weeks working in a surgery, couldn’t stand it.