Category: Third Level

Reorganised Governance The existing provisions and functions of governing bodies were reframed.  The governing bodies reserved the functions in relation to the appointment of the director and staff was amended.  The function in relation to committees was strengthened. The colleges are, in so far as possible to contribute to the promotion of economic, cultural and […]

Reorganisation under HEA The Regional Technical Colleges Acts provided for the establishment of Regional Technical Colleges.  There are equivalent provisions in the Dublin Institute of Technology Acts which largely mirror the Regional Technical Colleges Act. The legislation was amended by the Institutes of Technology Act 2006. The Institutes of Technology Act 2006 provided for an […]

Reorganisation of VECs Education and Training Boards Act 2012 reorganises the existing Vocational Education Committees as Education and Training Boards.  It reformed governance and updates the functions of the Board to better reflect the evolution of the VECs and seeks to better reflect the evolved role of the VEC. The Vocational Education Committees were replaced […]

Background Originally, VECs provided education at the post-primary level only. The roles of the Vocational Education Committee expanded significantly, and they came to provide a wide range of education in the second and third level areas. Vocational Education Committees were originally established with a strong county council linkage. The linkage remained strong, but over time […]

Universities The Universities Act 1997 constituted and established certain colleges and universities as universities under the legislation.  It provided for the incorporation of educational institutions as parts of universities or as universities in their own right.  It provided for the governance of universities in receipt of monies from the State. The Universities Act applies to […]

Modern Legislation The Student Support Act 2011 replaced the grant system under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act 1968.It provided for a unified scheme replacing four existing schemes.  All schemes are now on a statutory footing. The Minister is to advance funds to the awarding authority with the consent of the Minister for Finance.  […]

Universities Act The Universities Act applies to all universities.  It sets out the objectives and functions of a university, the structure, the functions of its governing body, staffing arrangements academic counsel, planning and evaluation of progress. It also deals with finance reporting and property issues. The Act recognises the NUI colleges as largely autonomous A […]

Institutes of Technology The non-university sector remains under the control of the Minister for Education.  The university and non-university sectors are perceived as having different roles. The non-university sector was expected to develop a distinct role in relation to technical training and practical orientation of programs and maintain a regional focus. There were two categories […]

Trinity College The University of Dublin was established in 1592 with its single constituent college, Trinity College.  It is founded on the site of All Hallows Monastery, which was taken over by Henry VIII’s government after the Reformation. In the late 18th century Catholics and dissenters were permitted to attend. The ethos remained ascendancy and […]

Governance The Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland was established by legislation in 2012 to take over the functions of the National Qualification Authority of Ireland, The Higher Education and Training Awards Council and the Further Education and Training Awards Council. The property, assets and liabilities of these bodies were transferred to the new […]

Functions SOLAS’s function is to develop and implement a national strategy for the delivery of further education and training.  It is to consult with the Department of Social Protection and employers in relation to the types of education and training programs to be funded by the authority and delivered by public and other bodies. SOLAS […]

The Older Universities The first Irish University, the University of Dublin known by its single college, Trinity College was the first Irish university.  It was founded by Royal Charter in 1592.  The second university Queen’s University comprised three constituent colleges at Cork, Galway and Belfast.  The University of Dublin was associated with the ethos of […]

Education and Training Boards Act 2013. The purpose of the Act was to extend the functions of Vocational Education Committees, now the Education and Training Boards  in relation to youth work; to provide for making of grants in relation to youth work; to provide for the appointment of an Assessor of Youth Work; to establish […]