‘Units’ in this database are national-level organisations which perform public functions under public authority. These include government departments, agencies, and commercial state-owned enterprises. For further details on the types of organisations included in the database, see the what we have done and why document.
Units can be searched by name, legal form, function, policy area, or date. On each unit’s page, information is available including dates of activity, alternate names, relevant legislation, related units, related events. and also data on characteristics such as legal form, policy area, function, accountability mechanisms, location, and parent bodies. For further details on the data recorded about each unit, see the Codebook
53 results
Name
| From
| To
| Description
| Source
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland | 1784-02-11 | Founded in 1784 as the national training body for surgery in Ireland | McGauran et al. 2005; www.rcsi.ie; The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (Charter Amendment) Act 1965 (No. 1 (Private) of 1965); Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (Charters Amendment) Act 2003 (No. 1 (Private) of 2003) | |
| Royal Irish Academy | 1785-05-01 | Founded in 1785, RIA is an all-Ireland, independent academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. | McGauran et al.2005; www.ria.ie | |
| Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies | 1940-06-19 | As the world’s second, and Ireland’s only, Institute for Advanced Studies, DIAS is a globally embedded institution that attracts scholars and academics from around the world. It conducts and publishes advanced research across three disciplines: Celtic Studies, Theoretical Physics and Cosmic Physics. | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.dias.ie/; Institute of Advanced Studies Act 1940 http://www.dias.ie/lang/en/commun/act.html | |
| Institute of Public Administration | 1957-11-06 | Became a company limited by guarantee on 31/12/1963; also became a recognised college of the National University of Ireland in 2002 | McGauran et al. 2005; www.ipa.ie; 'Improving Public Administration' The Irish Press, 2 November 1957 | |
| Coiste an Asgard | 1968-01-01 | 2010-01-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.asgard2.ie/ | |
| Advisory Council for English Language Schools | 1969-01-01 | 2010-01-01 | Absorbed into National Qualifications Authority of Ireland | McGauran et al. 2005; Written answers, Tuesday, 19 January 2010, Department of Education and Science - Language Schools |
| Irish Taxation Institute | 1967-01-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.taxinstitute.ie/ | ||
| Fire Services Council | 1983-06-22 | 2012-06-08 | McGauran et al. 2005; Fire Services Act 1981; S.I. No. 175/1983; Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2012 | |
| Foras Áiseanna Saothair | 1988-01-01 | 2013-10-27 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.fas.ie/; Labour Services Act 1987; Further Education and Training Act 2013; http://www.solas.ie/ | |
| An Chomhairle Oiliúna | 1967-05-15 | 1988-01-01 | Merge w/ Youth Employment Agency and National Manpower Service into FAS | Industrial Training Act 1967, S.I. No. 117/1967; Labour Services Act 1987 |
| Youth Employment Agency | 1982-01-27 | 1988-01-01 | Merge with AnCO and National Manpower Service into FAS | Youth Employment Agency Act, 1981; S.I. No. 16/1982; Labour Services Act 1987; S.I. No. 248/1987 |
| Integrate Ireland Language and Training Ltd. | 1999-03-30 | 2008-08-08 | At first, established in 1999 as the Refugee Language Support Unit (RLSU), a two-year pilot project under the aegis of the Centre for Language and Communication Studies (CLCS), Trinity College Dublin. In September 2001 the RSLU became Integrate Ireland Language and Training Ltd. (IILT) | McGauran et al. 2005; http://web.archive.org/web/20050308182828/www.iilt.ie/AboutUs.asp; 'Refugee Language Support Unit Launched' Trinity College Press Release, 30 March 1999. |
| Fulbright Commission Ireland | 1992-02-03 | An Bord Scoláireachtaí Cómalairte, established in 1957 by means of the Scholarship Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act, 1957, was replaced under the Educational Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act, 1991. | http://www.fulbright.ie/; Scholarship Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act, 1957; the Educational Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act, 1991; S.I. No. 354/1991. | |
| International Education Board of Ireland | 1993-01-01 | 2009-11-30 | ceased trading on 30th November 2009 and its main functions transferred to Enterprise Ireland | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.educationireland.ie/ |
| Léargas | 1993-10-28 | Léargas manage international and national exchange programmes in education, youth and community work, and vocational education and training | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.leargas.ie/ | |
| National Centre for Guidence in Education | 1995-06-01 | National Centre for Guidance in Education aims to develop and support quality guidance provision in the education sector as part of lifelong learning in accordance with national and international best practice | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.ncge.ie/ | |
| Commission on School Accommodation | 1996-03-01 | 2011-01-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; Written answers, Thursday, 6 May 2010-- Department of Education and Science-School Accommodation; Written answers Wednesday, 22 June 2011, Department of Education and Skills - Schools Recognition; Written answers, Tuesday, 25 October 2011, Department of Education and Skills, Departmental Agencies | |
| National Centre for Technology in Education | 1998-03-01 | 2011-09-01 | No Board existed for the NCTE in 2011. Since September 2011, the NCTE is within the remit of Dublin West Education Centre alongside the Department’s largest support service, the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST). | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.ncte.ie/; Written Answers - Departmental Agencies, Wednesday, 21 March 2012, Dáil Éireann Debate Vol. 758 No. 7 |
| An Foras Teanga | 1999-12-02 | Also known as North/South Language Body. Is comprised of two agencies: Ulster-Scots Agency and Foras na Gaeilge, each of which has its own board, whose members together constitute the board of the An Foras Teanga | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.anforasteanga.ie/; the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999; the North-South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) Northern Ireland Order 1999 | |
| Foras na Gaeilge | 1999-12-02 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.gaeilge.ie/; the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999; the North-South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) Northern Ireland Order 1999 | ||
| Tha Boord O Ulstér-Scotch | 1999-12-02 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.ulsterscotsagency.com/; the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999; the North-South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) Northern Ireland Order 1999 | ||
| Science Foundation Ireland | 2003-07-25 | Was established in 2000 as a sub-board of Forfás. In 2003 was established on a statutory basis | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.sfi.ie/; Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Act 2003 | |
| Further Education and Training Awards Council | 2001-06-11 | 2012-11-06 | Is responisble for making awards previously made by BIM, Fáilte Ireland (CERT), FÁS, NCVA and Teagasc; will merge with HETAC and NQAI after 2008 budget | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.fetac.ie/; Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999; Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012; S.I. No. 436/2012; http://www.qualificationsandquality.ie/ |
| Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology | 2001-06-01 | 2012-03-29 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://research.ie/; Written answers, Tuesday, 13 May 2014, Department of Education and Skills -Departmental Bodies Data | |
| National Education Welfare Board | 2002-07-05 | 2014-01-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; Education (Welfare) Act 2000; http://www.newb.ie/; Child and Family Agency Act 2013 | |
| National Council for Special Education | 2003-12-24 | First established as an independent statutory body by order of the Minister for Education and Science in December 2003; formally established under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. | S.I. No.270/2004; Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; http://www.ncse.ie/ | |
| Special Education Appeals Board | 2006-04-03 | Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 | ||
| Advisory Council for Science Technology and Innovation | 2005-04-01 | 2012-01-01 | Established as a successor body to The Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (est. in 1997) | https://publicpolicy.ie/perspectives/fostering-innovation-in-irish-innovation-policy/ |
| National Agricultural Authority | 1977-07-04 | 1979-07-20 | Replaced An Foras Talúntais in 1977; Replaced by An Chomhairle Oiliúna Talmhaíochta (Council for Development in Agriculture) under Agriculture Act 1979 | National Agricultural Advisory, Education and Research Authority Act, 1977; Agriculture Act 1979 |
| Department of Education (I) | 1924-06-01 | 1997-09-30 | Renamed the Department of Education and Science | S.I. 430/1997; Coakley & Gallagher 2005; Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 |
| Teaching Council | 2006-03-28 | Replaced the Registration Council for Secondary Teachers | http://www.teachingcouncil.ie/; Teaching Council Act, 2001; S.I. No. 185/2006 | |
| An Cheard-Chomhairle | 1960-04-11 | 1967-05-15 | regulated apprenticeships--functions taken over by AnCO | Apprenticeship Act, 1959; Industrial Training Act, 1967 |
| Council for Education, Recruitment and Training for the Hotel Industry | 1963-11-07 | 2003-05-28 | Established by Bord Fáilte; Functions transferred to National Tourism Development Authority (Fáilte Ireland) and FETAC now has responsibility for awards | National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003; http://web.archive.org/web/20010201150400/http://www.cert.ie/ |
| National Council for Vocational Awards | 1991-11-29 | 2001-06-11 | Replaced by FETAC | Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999; Dáil Éireann - Volume 420 - 05 June, 1992--Estimates, 1992. - Vote 29: Third-Level and Further Education (Revised Estimate); http://web.archive.org/web/20010201070000/http://www.ncva.ie/ |
| National Council for Educational Awards | 1980-07-16 | 2001-06-11 | Existed as an ad hoc body since 1972, replaced by HETAC | National Council for Educational Awards Act 1979; Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 |
| National Committee for Development Education | 1994-06-30 | 2002-12-01 | Dáil Éireann - Volume 644 - 18 December, 2007 - Written Answers. - Departmental Agencies; http://web.archive.org/web/20011214234002/http://www.ncde.ie/index.html | |
| Development Education Support Centre | 1986-01-01 | 1994-06-30 | Dáil Éireann - Volume 412 - 13 November, 1991--Written Answers. - Development Education Support Centre; Dáil Éireann - Volume 444 - 21 June, 1994 | |
| National Development Education Grants Committee | 1989-01-01 | 1994-06-30 | Dáil Éireann - Volume 444 - 21 June, 1994 - Written Answers. - Development Education Support Centre | |
| Department of Education and Skills | 2010-05-02 | 2020-10-22 | Succeeded by Department of Education (II) and some functions transferred to new Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science | http://www.education.ie/; S.I. No. 184/2010; S.I. No. 450/2020; Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Act 2020 (No. 10 of 2020; S.I. No. 451/2020 |
| Skillnet Ireland Ltd. | 1998-12-17 | Formerly known as Skillnets Ltd., changed name to Skillnet Ireland in 2018 | http://www.skillnets.ie/; Seanad Éireann - Volume 187 - 24 October, 2007--Education and Training: Motion; www.skillnetireland.ie | |
| National Adult Learning Council | 2002-03-01 | 2003-01-01 | Set up with intention of being placed on statutory footing; however, following a review it became inactive in 2003. Formally disbanded as part of a rationalisation of agencies under the 2008 Budget | McGauran et al. 2005; Dáil Éireann - Volume 603 - 14 June, 2005--Written Answers. - National Adult Literacy Council; Dáil Éireann - Volume 665 - 04 November, 2008--Written Answers. - Adult Education |
| Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland | 2012-11-06 | QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland) is an independent State agency responsible for promoting quality and accountability in education and training services in Ireland. | Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012; S.I. No. 436/2012; http://www.qualificationsandquality.ie/ | |
| An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh Agus Scileanna | 2013-10-27 | SOLAS was established to develop and give strategic direction to the Further Education and Training Sector in Ireland. | Further Education and Training Act 2013; http://www.solas.ie/ | |
| Oberstown Children Detention Campus | 2016-06-01 | Under the Children (Amendment) Act 2015 child detention schools in the state were amalgamated into one national detention campus. | www.oberstown.com; Children (Amendment) Act 2015; S.I. No. 273/2016 | |
| Department of Education (II) | 2020-10-22 | Replaced Department of Education and Skills and followed transfer of certain functions to new Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science | S.I. No. 450/2020; https://www.education.ie/en/ | |
| Teastas | 1995-09-01 | 2001-02-26 | Teastas (the Irish National Certification Authority) was established on a non-statutory interim basis in September 1995. This was pending the enactment of new legislation formally establishing the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, FETAC and HETAC, following the 'Teastas report' in 1998 | https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1996-10-22/193/?highlight%5B0%5D=teastas&highlight%5B1%5D=teastas; https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/the-teastas-report-1.128991; Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 (No. 26 of 1999); S.I. No. 57/2001 |
| Ministry of Education | 1922-01-11 | 1924-06-02 | Predated Saorstát Éireann.'Departments of State' referred to in general terms under Constitution of the Irish Free State (Saorstát Eireann) Act, 1922. Subsequently replaced by Department of Education (I) under the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 (No. 16 of 1924) | Article 56 and the 'Transitory Provisions' of the Schedule to the Constitution of the Irish Free State (Saorstát Eireann) Act, 1922 (No. 1 of 1922); Chubb 1970; https://www.gov.ie/ga/foilsiuchan/99eec5-second-dail/ |
| Royal Veterinary College of Ireland | 1900-01-01 | 1977-01-01 | Incorporated by Royal Charter and began its work in October 1900. Following the withdrawal of the Department of Agriculture as a direct employing agency in 1960, two separate veterinary schools were run by UCD and TCD at the Ballsbridge site and this continued until 1977 when the two schools were merged and fully incorporated into UCD and the college ceased to be a separate entity | https://www.ucd.ie/archives/collections/universityarchives/items/collectionname,235378,en.html#accordion1 |
| Metropolitan School of Art | 1877-01-01 | 1936-01-01 | The origins of the College date from 1746 when Robert West had a private drawing school in George's Lane, Dublin, which was taken over by the Dublin Society (later the RDS). From 1854 the institution was controlled by the Department of Science and Art, London. In 1877 it was renamed The Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. The Department of Education took control in 1924, and twelve years later it became the National College of Art | https://www.ncad.ie/about/ |
| National College of Art | 1936-01-01 | 1971-12-01 | The origins of the College date from 1746 when Robert West had a private drawing school in George's Lane, Dublin, which was taken over by the Dublin Society (later the RDS). From 1854 the institution was controlled by the Department of Science and Art, London. In 1877 it was renamed The Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. The Department of Education took control in 1924, and twelve years later it became the National College of Art. In 1972 the National College of Art and Design was established under an Act of the Oireachtas | https://www.ncad.ie/about/ |
| National College of Art and Design | 1971-12-01 | The origins of the College date from 1746 when Robert West had a private drawing school in George's Lane, Dublin, which was taken over by the Dublin Society (later the RDS). From 1854 the institution was controlled by the Department of Science and Art, London. In 1877 it was renamed The Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. The Department of Education took control in 1924, and twelve years later it became the National College of Art. On 1 May 1972 the National College of Art and Design was established under an Act of the Oireachtas passed on 1 December 1971 | https://www.ncad.ie/about/; National College of Art and Design Act 1971 (No. 28 of 1971); S.I. No. 108/1972 | |
| Museum of Irish Industry | 1854-01-01 | 1866-01-01 | A museum dedicated to the exhibition of the various, display-worthy materials from, and donated by, the industries of mining and manufacturing established in Ireland. In addition, the museum gave lectures on the subject, and related subject matters, to th | https://web.archive.org/web/20120306001947/http://www.ucd.ie/archives/html/university/mii.htm; https://web.archive.org/web/20050331014146/http://www.bopcris.ac.uk/eppi/ref12709.html |
| Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland | 1900-01-01 | 1931-04-01 | The Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland was established as a separate department for Ireland prior to 1922, the functions of which continued for a period following independence. This body had a broad mandate with respect to the development of agriculture and industry, encompassing educational, regulatory, funding and statistical functions. Certain functions of this body were transferred to the Department of Lands in 1924 and Education and Fisheries in 1927. This body was dissolved in 1931 and its remaining functions transferred to the Departments of Agriculture and Industry and Commerce | Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act 1899 (62 & 63 Vict.), Ch. 50; Agriculture Act 1931 (No. 8 of 1931) |