Update of the Higher Education Authority Act 1971 - Public Consultation

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is the statutory funding authority for the universities, institutes of technology and a number of other designated institutions. It is the advisory body to the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to the higher education sector. It also has responsibility for the effective governance and regulation of higher education institutions and the higher education system.

The Higher Education Authority Act, 1971 established the HEA, set out its functions and provided for its governance. It has been updated on a number of occasions.

The Department of Education and Skills is proposing to put in place new legislation to more fully reflect the HEA’s current central role and responsibilities in relation to higher education, in order to support higher education institutions to be the best in Europe.

A key priority will be to clearly differentiate between the regulatory / oversight role of the HEA and the strategy / policy responsibilities of the Minister for Education and Skills.

The Department is requesting the views of all interested parties on the proposed update of the Higher Education Authority Act, 1971. The views received from this consultation process will be considered by the Minister in the context of the process of reviewing and revising the HEA legislation.  

Stakeholders views are invited in response to a set of eight key questions that are contained in a consultation document that is available in pdf format or in word format

Please forward your submissions to heconsultation@education.gov.ie by 31 August 2018.