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Education Legislation

Enacted Legislation

Listed below is the legislation for which the Department has been responsible since the foundation of the State. There are a small number of enactments predating independence such as the Intermediate Education Acts and the Children Act, 1908 (in part). Some recent legislation remains in part or total to be commenced, but plans are being made in relation to those (see *).

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act2012
Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act2012
Education (Amendment) Act2012
Student Support Act2011
Residential Institutions Redress (Amendment) Act2011
George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Act*2010
Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act *2007
Institutes of Technology Act  2006
Teaching Council (Amendment) Act  2006
University College Galway (Amendment) Act2006
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Act2005
Grangegorman Development Agency Act  2005
Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act*2004
Residential Institutions Redress Act2002
Teaching Council Act*2001
Vocational Education (Amendment) Act*2001
Youth Work Act*2001
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act2000
Education (Welfare) Act2000
Qualifications (Education and Training) Act1999
Regional Technical Colleges (Amendment) Act1999
Education Act1998
George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Act1998
Scientific and Technological Education (Investment) Fund (Amendment)Act1998
Scientific and Technological Education (Investment) Fund Act1997
Universities Act1997
Youth Work Act1997
Dublin Institute of Technology (Amendment) Act1994
Regional Technical Colleges (Amendment) Act1994
Dublin Institute of Technology Act1992
Regional Technical Colleges Act1992
Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act1992
University of Limerick Dissolution of Thomond College Act1991
Teachers Superannuation (Amendment) Act1990
Dublin City University Act1989
University of Limerick Act1989
National Institute for Higher Education Dublin Act1980
National Institute for Higher Education Limerick Act1980
Thomond College of Education Limerick Act1980
National Council for Educational Awards Act1979
Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act1978
Higher Education Authority Act1971
National College of Art and Design Act1971
Vocational Education (Amendment) Act1970
National University of Ireland Act1969
Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act1968
Institute for Advanced Studies (Amendment) Act1967
School Attendance (Amendment) Act1967
Vocational Education (Amendment) Act1962
Local Authorities (Education Scholarships) (Amendment) Act1961
University College Dublin Act1960
Vocational Education (Amendment) Act1953
Vocational Education (Amendment) Act1950
Vocational Education (Amendment) Act1947
Local Authorities (Education Scholarships) Act1944
Vocational Education (Amendment) Act1944
Vocational Education (Amendment) Act1943
Institute for Advanced Studies Act1940
University Colleges Act1940
School Attendance Act1936
University College Dublin Act1934
University Education (Agriculture and Dairy Science) Act1930
Vocational Education Act1930
University College Galway Act1929
Teachers Superannuation Act1928
School Attendance Act1926
University Education (Agriculture and Dairy Science) Act1926
Intermediate Education (Amendment) Act1924

Published Bills

Further Education and Training Bill 201325/01/2013
Education and Training Boards Bill 2012 (Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA))05/10/2012

Primary Legislation in Preparation

The Department is currently in the process of preparing the following items of draft legislation:

Universities (Amendment) Bill

Drafting work based on the General Scheme of the Bill which was approved by Government in October 2012 is underway.

Education (Admission to School) Bill

Drafting of the Heads of the Bill is underway and is at an early stage.