Functions under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999

The functions of the Authority under the Act are summarised as follows:

Under section 7 (a), the establishment of the national framework of qualifications, based on standards of knowledge, skill and competence to be acquired by learners.
Under section 7 (a), the maintenance of the national framework of qualifications
Under section 7 (b), the establishment, and the promotion of the improvement, of the standards of the awards of the Further Education and Training Awards Council, the Higher Education and Training Awards council, the Dublin Institute of Technology and any new university that may be established
Under section 8 (2)(a), the establishment of the policies and criteria on which the national framework of qualifications shall be based
Under section 8 (2)(b), the review of the operation of the national framework of qualifications
Under section 8 (2)(c), the establishment, in consultation with the Further Education and Training Awards Council and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, of procedures for the performance by them of their functions and the review those procedures
Under section 8(2)(d), the determination of procedures to be implemented by providers for access, transfer and progression
Under section 8(2)(d), ensuring that its procedures for access, transfer and progression are implemented by the Dublin Institute of Technology and any university established under section 9 of the Universities Act, 1997
Under section 8(2)(f), facilitating and advising the universities in implementing the procedures in relation to access, transfer and progression and reviewing the implementation of those procedures by universities
Under section 8(2)(g), consulting with and advising the Minister for Education and Science or any other Minister, as the case may be, on such matters in respect of its functions as the Minister or any other Minister may request or as the Authority sees fit
Under section 8(h), liaison with bodies outside the state which make awards for the purposes of facilitating the recognition in the state of those awards and by which the Authority would facilitate recognition outside the state of awards made in the state
Under section 8(3)(i), informing itself of the requirements of industry and the promotion of practices to meet these requirements
Under section 8(3)(ii), informing itself of practices outside the State in respect of matters relevant to its functions
Under section 8(3)(iii), giving effect to the policies relating to education and training which from time to time are established, and notified in writing to the Authority, by the Minister for Education and Science, or by any other Minister with the agreement of the Minister, following consultation with the Authority
Under section 8(3)(iv), consulting with universities, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, the Further Education and Training Awards Council, the Dublin Institute of Technology, recognised institutions, FÁS, Fáilte Ireland, Teagasc, An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, educational or training institutions established by a vocational education committee, other providers of education and training, persons, or bodies of persons, who represent employees of providers of education and training or who represent learners, the Higher Education Authority, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and such other persons or bodies of persons as the Authority considers appropriate, and the Authority shall consider the views, if any, of those bodies for the purpose of determining the procedures procedures to be implemented by providers for access, transfer and progression
Under section 9, the review of the performance by the Further Education and Training Awards Council or the Higher Education and Training Awards Council of its functions and the making of such recommendations to the Council concerned in respect of that performance, as the Authority thinks fit
Under section 10, the differentiation between further education and training and higher education and training
Under section 11, the payment of an annual grant to either of the two Councils and the attachment of any conditions to such grants
Under sections 17 or 27, the appeal by a provider against refusal or withdrawal of validation of a programme by either of the two Councils
Under sections 18 and 28, the determination of the form and manner of which the report of an awards Council on the quality assurance procedures of a provider is published
Under sections 18 and 28, the direction to a Council to commence a review of the effectiveness of a provider’s quality assurance procedures
Under sections 19 and 29, the agreement of procedures and criteria for a review in relation to the delegation of authority to a provider by either of the Councils
Under sections 19 and 29, the agreement with either of the Councils in relation to the final outcome of any such review
Under sections 20 and 30, the direction to a Council to commence a review of a provider with delegated authority
Under sections 20 and 30, the agreement of procedures for a review of a provider with delegated authority
Under sections 20 and 30, the appeal by a provider against withdrawal of delegated authority
Under section 31, consultation with the governing body of recognised institution in relation to its Charter
Under section 32, the approval of any awarding body and / or the approval of any arrangements in relation to having awards made following programmes in recognised institutions, other than where the arrangement arises as a result of a joint awarding agreement involving either the Higher Education and Training Awards Council or the Further Education and Training Awards Council
Under section 39, the agreement of quality assurance procedures with the Dublin Institute of Technology
Under section 39, the making of recommendations to the Dublin Institute of Technology following the outcome of such implementation of such procedures
Under section 39, the review of the effectiveness of the quality assurance procedures of the Dublin Institute of Technology
Under section 40(5), consultation with the Higher Education Authority in relation to its quality assurance review role for the universities
Under section 42, the agreement of quality assurance procedures with any university established under section 9 of the 1997 Universities Act.
Under section 42, the making of recommendations to any university established under section 9 of the 1997 Universities Act following the outcome of such implementation of such procedures
Under section 42, the review of the effectiveness of the quality assurance procedures of any university established under section 9 of the 1997 Universities Act, and the determination of the outcome of such a review
Under section 43, the publication of the registers of the Councils of programmes in respect of which arrangements for the protection of learners are in place
Under section 50, the appointment of a Chief Executive
Under section 52, the appointment of staff
Under section 52 and the third schedule, the determination of a superannuation scheme for its employees
Under section 56, the establishment of committees of the Authority
Under section 57, the keeping of accounts and the publication of these annually
Under section 58, the approval of a corporate plan for at least a two year period
Under section 58, the amendment and approval, as appropriate, of the corporate plans of the awards Councils
Under section 59, the approval of a bi-annual report
Under section 61, advising the Minister for Education and Science in respect of the level of fees to be charged by the Authority or either of the two Councils
Under section 61, the determination of the policy approach to reviewing the fee levels of either of the two councils and the determination of the outcome of any such review.