The Department of Education was formed under the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924. In 2007 it was renamed the Department of Education and Science. In 2010 it became the Department of Education and Skills. The Department of Education has the overall responsibility for the development of the Irish education system. It is involved in a broad range of activities including preparation, administering, legislation, and formulating policies, setting standards and monitoring and evaluating programs. It is formed under the Ministers and Secretaries Act.
The Further Education and Awards Council gives persons the opportunity to gain recognition for learning and education in training centres in the workplace and community. Its programs include making and promoting awards, validating programs, monitoring and ensuring the quality of programs and determining standard; Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999.
The Higher Education and Training Awards Council was established under the same legislation. It is the qualification awards body for third-level education and training sectors outside of the University sector and DIT. It succeeded the National Council for Education Awards.
HETAC may make awards or delegate authority to make awards to recognised institutions. Recognized institutions currently comprise the Institutes of Technology. HETAC awards qualifications at all levels of higher education and training up to PhD level. Its main function includes
setting standards for high year education and training awards,
validation of higher education and training programs,
monitoring of institutional quality assurance procedure,
delegation of awarding powers to recognised institutions,
ensuring student assessment procedures are fair and consistent and
ensuring arrangements are in place in commercial education and training institutions to protect learners where programs validated by HETAC cease to be available.
The Higher Education Authority is the planning and development body for higher education and research. It has a range of advisory powers regarding the whole third level sector. It is the funding authority for universities and a number of designated higher education institutions.
The Institutes of Technology Act designates the Institutes of Technology as Institutes of Higher Education under the Authority. HEA has the role of funding authority for the institutes.
The principal functions of HEA are to
further the development of higher education,
maintain a continuous review of the demand and need for higher education
assist in the coordination of state investment in higher education
prepare proposals for such investment
to allocate amongst universities and designated institutions the grant voted by the Oireachtas
to promote equality and opportunity in higher education.
The State Examinations Commission is established under Education Act 1998. It operates all aspects of the Leaving Cert, Leaving Certificate Applied, Leaving Certificate Vocational Program and Junior Cert Examinations. [This includes preparation of examination materials, procedures for the conduct of examinations, recruitment of staff to supervise and mark exams, arrangement for assessment and examination, issue of results, collection of fees and designation of examination places.
The Teaching Council publishes and reviews codes of professional conduct for teachers. This includes standards of teaching, knowledge, skill and competence. It maintains the register of teachers. It l conducts enquiries and imposes sanctions in relation to fitness to teach.
The Special Education Appeals Board was established in 2006 and is still active.
An Comhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta was established in 2002.
The Commissioners for Education in Ireland was established in 1813 under the Endowed Schools Act It was dissolved in 1925 and became the part of the Department of Education.
The Registration Council for Secondary Teachers was established in 1914 under the Intermediate Education Act. It was replaced by the Teaching Council in 2006.
An Bord Scoiláireachtaí Cómhalairte was established in 1957 and replaced by the Irish-United States Commission for Educational Exchange the Fulbright Commission in 1992.
The Fulbright Commission Ireland was established in 1992 under the Educational Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act, 1991.
The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies was formed under Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies Act 1940.
The National Institute for Higher Education was established in 1972 and formalised in 1980
NIHE Dublin was incorporated under the NIHE Dublin Act 1980 and became Dublin City University under and Dublin City University in 1989. Limerick NIHE was incorporated under the NIHE Limerick Act 1980 as the University of Limerick under the University of Limerick Act in 1989.
The Higher Education and Training Awards Council succeeded National Council for Education Awards which itself was established under the National Education Council for Education Awards Act 1980. 1980. It had existed on a non-statutory basis since 1972. It was replaced by HETAC.
The Higher Education Authority was established in 1968 and placed on a statutory footing in 1971.
The National Council for Special Education was established in 2003. It was formally established under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004.
The National Education Welfare Board was established in 2002.
The Teaching Council was established in 2001 and replaced the Registration Council for Secondary Teachers as well as providing for registration of primary teachers.
The Irish Taxation Institute was established in 1967.
The Council for Education Recruitment and Training for the Hotel Industry was established in 1964. It was part of the National tourism development authority, Fáilte Éireann.
FETAC has responsibility for awards
Council for Early Childhood Development and Education was formed in 2002 and abolished in 2008.
The Curriculum and Examinations Board was established in 1984 and was replaced by the National Council for Curriculum Assessment in 1987.
The Development Education Sports Centre was formed in 1986 and the functions was transferred in 1994.
The International Education Board of Ireland established in 1993 and its functions were transferred to Enterprise Ireland in 2009.
The National Adult Learning Council was established in 2002 and expanded in 2008.
The National Centre for Technology Education was established in 1998.
The National Development Education Grants Committee was formed in 1989 and dissolved in 1994.
The Commission on School Accommodation was formed in 1996.
The National Centre for Guidance in Education was formed in 1995.
The National Education Psychological Services Agency was formed in 1999.
The Advisory Council for English-Language Schools was formed in 1969 and absorbed into the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland in 2010.
The National University of Ireland at Galway was formed in 1845 as Queens College Galway. It became the University College Galway in 1908 and is known as the National University of Ireland Galway under the Universities Act 1997.
Trinity College Dublin was founded by a Royal Charter in 1592.
University College Cork was founded as Queens College Cork in 1845. It was renamed University College, Cork by charter in 1908 and became the National University of Ireland, Cork in 1997.
University College Dublin was known as the Catholic University of Ireland from 1854 to 1881 when it was renamed University College Dublin. It was incorporated into the National University of Ireland in 1908.
The Intermediate Education Board for Ireland was established in 1878 and became part of The Department of Education in 1925.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment was formed in 1988 and places on a statutory basis under the Education Act 1997.
Further Education and Training Awards Council is responsible for awards previously made by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Bord Fáilte, FÁS, Teagasc, NCBA. It merged with HETAC and NQAI in 2008/2009.
The Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences commenced in January 2000.
The Irish Research Council for Science, Technology and Engineering, commenced in 2001.
The National Committee for Development Education commenced in 2004
The National Council for Vocational Awards operated from 1991 to 2001. Qualifications Education and Training Act. It was replaced by FETAC.
The Central Applications Office commenced in 1976.
The Irish Universities Quality Board was established in 2003 under the Universities Act 1997. T