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Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Distribution of responsibilities
Ireland

Ireland

8.Adult education and training

8.1Distribution of responsibilities

Last update: 11 March 2025
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Distribution of Responsibilites

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science (DFHERIS) is responsible for devising policy in the Further Education and Training Sector (FET) and  providing the necessary funding for FET programmes. SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority, an agency of the Department, is responsible for the funding, planning and co-ordinating of FET programmes. At a local level, the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) are responsible for the delivery of publicly funded FET programmes, determining the scope and nature of provision based on local demand and in consultation with SOLAS.

The general functions of SOLAS include the following:

  • preparing and submitting to the Minister a strategy for the provision of further education and training.
  • promoting an appreciation and awareness of the value of further education and training.
  • Allocating funds to Education and Training Boards and other bodies engaged in the provision of further education and training programmes.
  • assessing whether Education and Training Boards, and other bodies to whom funds are allocated perform their functions in an economic, efficient, and effective manner.
  • promoting cooperation between Education and Training Boards and other bodies providing further education and training.
  • promoting equality of opportunity in relation to the provision of further education and training.
  • developing and facilitating the development of new and existing further education and training programmes including establishing systems to monitor the quality of the education and training to  ensure that they meet their objectives.
  • providing or arranging for the provision of training and retraining for employment and coordinating such training by external partners. 

Quality and Qualifications Ireland

QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland) is a state agency under the aegis of the Department of Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science established by the Quality Assurance and Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 2012. QQI functions include those previously carried out by the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC); the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC); the Irish Universities Quality Board (IUQB) and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI).

In terms of qualifications, QQI oversees the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), acts as an awarding body, and sets standards for awards made on the NFQ. It validates education and training programmes and makes awards in the FET sector, including those offered by the Education and Training Boards. In the area of quality assurance, QQI  reviews the effectiveness of quality assurance across FET and higher education providers in Ireland including the universities, institutes of technology, Education and Training Boards and private education providers availing of QQI awards.