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Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Distribution of responsibilities

Ireland

8.Adult education and training

8.1Distribution of responsibilities

Last update: 27 November 2023
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Distribution of Responsibilites

The Department of Education and Skills is responsible for devising policy in the Further Education and Training Sector. The Department also provides the funding for Further Education and Training programmes. SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority, an agency of the Department is responsible for funding, planning and co-ordinating Further Education and Training programmes. The Education and Training Boards (ETBs) are responsible for the delivery of publicly-funded FET programmes locally. The ETBs decide on the level and nature of provision based on local demand and in consultation with SOLAS, the further Education and Training Authority.

The general functions of SOLAS include to:

  • prepare and submit to the Minister a strategy in respect of the provision of further education and training;

  • promote an appreciation of the value of further education and training;

  • advance moneys to education and training boards and other bodies engaged in the provision of further education and training programmes;

  • assess whether or not education and training boards, and other bodies engaged in the provision of further education and training programmes, to whom moneys have been advanced under section 21 perform their functions in an economic, efficient and effective manner;

  • promote cooperation between education and training boards and other bodies involved in the provision of further education programmes;

  • promote equality of opportunity in relation to the provision of further education and training;

  • develop, and facilitate the development of, new and existing further education and training programmes including the establishment of systems designed to monitor the quality of the education and training concerned for the purpose of ensuring that those programmes serve their purpose;

  • promote cooperation between education and training boards and other bodies involved in the provision of further education programmes;

  • provide, or arrange for, the provision of training and retraining for employment and to assist in and coordinate the provision of such training by persons other than An tSeirbhís.

Quality and Qualifications Ireland

QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland) is a state agency, under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills, established by the Quality Assurance and Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 2012 with a board appointed by the Minister for Education and Skills. 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 the area of qualifications, QQI is responsible for maintaining the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), is also an awarding body and sets standards for awards made on the NFQ. QQI validate education and training programmes and make extensive awards in the Further Education and Training sector including in the Education and Training Boards. In the area of quality assurance, QQI is responsible for reviewing the effectiveness of quality assurance in further and higher education providers in Ireland including the universities, institutes of technology, Education and Training Boards and providers in the private further and higher education and training sectors (availing of QQI awards).