‘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
50 results
Name
| From
| To
| Description
| Source
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Register Office | 1845-04-01 | n/a | McGauran et al. 2005; www.groireland.ie; Marriages (Ireland) Act 1844; Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1863 | |
| Valuation Office | 1852-01-01 | 2023-03-01 | Subsequently merged with Property Registration Authority and Ordnance Survey Ireland to form Tailte Éireann | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.valoff.ie/; Valuation (Ireland) Act 1852; Valuation Acts and Statutory Instruments 1963 to 2005, specifically Valuation Act 2001. Tailte Éireann Act 2022 (No. 50 of 2022); S.I. No. 58/2023; https://http://www.valoff.ie/en/about-us/tailte-eireann/ |
| Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland | 1845-01-01 | 2014-10-16 | Pre-independence body but remit revised by legislation in 1961 and 1973. Dissolved in 2014 and functions transferred to the new Charities Regulatory Authority. | Charitable Donations and Bequests (Ireland) Act 1844; McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.charitycommissioners.ie/; Charities Acts 1961 & 1973; www.charitiesregulator.ie; Charities Act 2009; S.I. No. 456/2014; S.I. No. 457/2014 |
| Office of the Registrar of Friendly Societies | 1896-08-07 | Statutory footing can be traced back to the Friendly Societies Act 1896, adapted and modified by the Registrar of Friendly Societies (Adaptation Order) 1926. Also performs functions of the Registrar of Companies | McGauran et al. 2005; some information on www.cro.ie; Friendly Socities Act 1896 to 1977; Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1893 to 1978; Trade Union Acts 1871 to 1990 | |
| Met Éireann | 1936-12-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.met.ie/; Meteorological Services (Re-distribution of Public Services) Order, 1936 (SR & O No 276 of 1936) and later reassignments - eg Communications (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order, 1987; Dáil Éireann - Volume 647 - 13 February, 2008--Written Answers. - Departmental Bodies | ||
| Placenames Commission | 1946-10-24 | 2012-10-11 | Future placenames orders will be made by the Minister of State following public consultation and on consideration of advice provided by a voluntary Placenames Committee (established 19 September 2013). A new Placenames Committee was appointed on the 13th September 2016. The primary responsibility of the Placenames Committee is to advise the Minister for the Gaeltacht in relation to the Placenames of Ireland as defined in section 31 of the Official Languages Act, 2003. | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.logainm.ie/; Place-names Act 1973; http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/Irish/ThePlacenamesBranch/; Dept. of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, 'Critical Review of the Placenames Commission'; Dept. of Public Expenditure and Reform, 'Summary of agency rationalisation measures as at January 2014', Table B - http://per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Table-B.pdf; https://www.logainm.ie/en/inf/coiste |
| Central Statistics Office | 1949-06-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.cso.ie/; Statistics Act 1993 | ||
| Office of the Ombudsman | 1983-07-07 | Legislation created the office in 1980; the first Ombudsman took up office in 1984 following passing of I.R. Uimh. 424/1983 — An tOrdú um an Acht Ombudsman, 1980 (An Lá Ceaptha), 1983. | McGauran et al. 2005; http://ombudsman.gov.ie/en/; The Ombudsman Act 1980; I.R. Uimh. 424/1983 — An tOrdú um an Acht Ombudsman, 1980 (An Lá Ceaptha), 1983. | |
| National Statistics Board | 1986-02-01 | Was initially set up on a non-statutory basis in 1986; and was established on a statutory basis in 1994 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.nsb.ie/; The Statistics Act 1993 | |
| National Archives | 1988-06-01 | Took over the functions previously performed by the State Paper Office (1702) and the Public Record Office of Ireland (1867) | http://www.nationalarchives.ie/; The National Archives Act 1986 | |
| Office of the Data Protection Commissioners | 1989-01-09 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.dataprotection.ie/; Data Protection Act 1988 and Data Protection Amendment Act 2003 | ||
| Office of the Appeal Commissioners | 1968-03-26 | 2016-03-21 | Replaced Special Commissioners, replaced by the Tax Appeals Commission. | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.appealcommissioners.ie/; Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1968; Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997; Finance (Tax Appeals) Act 2015; S.I. No. 111/2016 |
| Office of the Information Commissioner | 1997-04-21 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.oic.gov.ie/en/; Freedom of Information Act 1997 and FOI (Amendment) Act 2003 | ||
| Irish Takeover Panel | 1997-04-29 | http://www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie/; Irish Takeover Panel Act 1997 | ||
| National Competitiveness Council | 1997-05-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.competitiveness.ie/ | ||
| Local Government Management Services Board | 1997-01-01 | 2012-08-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; www.lgmsb.ie/; S.I. No.410/1996; S.I. No. 289/2012; Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2012; S.I. No. 287/2012 | |
| ERDF and Cohesion Fund Financial Control Unit | 1998-01-01 | 2006-06-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.ndp.ie/; ERDF and Cohesion Fund Financial Control Unit Annual Reports 1999-2006; Dáil debates, Wednesday, 29 January 2014 - Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) | |
| Local Government Computer Services Board | 1975-09-17 | 2012-08-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.lgcsb.ie/; Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971; S.I. No.212 of 1975; the LGCSB Establishment Order (Amendment) 2004; Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2012; S.I. No. 287/2012; S.I. No. 288/2012 | |
| National Forum on Europe | 2001-10-18 | 2009-04-01 | www.forumoneurope.ie/ | |
| National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission | 2001-04-02 | 2014-12-22 | Following the commencement of the relevant provisions of the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014, the NPRF‘s investment mandate ended on 22 December 2014 with the establishment of the Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), to which NPRC's assets were transferred. | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.nprf.ie/; National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000; National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014; S.I. No. 586/2014 |
| Standards in Public Office Commission | 2001-12-10 | Replaced the Public Offices Commission, which was established in 1995 on the basis of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 | McGauran et al. 2005; Standards in Public Office Act 2001; http://www.sipo.gov.ie/ | |
| Ordnance Survey Ireland | 1824-01-01 | 2023-03-01 | Dates back to 1824 when the Ordnance Survey Office was set up. Ordnance Survey Ireland operated as part of the civil service under the Department of Finance from 1924 until 2002 when it became a commercial state enterprise under the Ordnance Survey Ireland Act 2001. Subsequently merged with the Property Registration Authority and the Valuation Office to form Tailte Éireann | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.osi.ie/; Ordnance Survey Ireland Act 2001; S.I. No. 73/2002; Tailte Éireann Act 2022 (No. 50 of 2022); S.I. No. 58/2023; https://http://www.valoff.ie/en/about-us/tailte-eireann/ |
| Commission for Public Service Appointments | 2004-10-19 | 2012-10-31 | Prior to 2004: similar functions were fulfilled by the Civil Service Commissioners (1956-2004) and Local Appointments Commissioners (1926-2004). In 2004 these bodies were dissolved and substituted by the Commission for Public Service Appointments | Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004; http://www.cpsa.ie/; Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012 |
| Houses of the Oireachtas Commission | 2004-01-01 | Received authority and responsibility for provision of services to the Houses of the Oireachtas and their Committees from the ultimate authority of the Minister for Finance | Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003; http://www.oireachtas.ie/ | |
| Public Record Office of Ireland | 1867-01-01 | 1988-06-01 | Death by merge into National Archives | Public Records (Ireland) Act, 1867; http://www.nationalarchives.ie/aboutus/history.html; The National Archives Act 1986 |
| State Paper Office | 1702-01-01 | 1988-06-01 | Merge into National Archives | IPA Yearbooks; http://www.nationalarchives.ie/about-us/history/; The National Archives Act 1986 |
| Public Appointments Service | 2004-10-19 | Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004; http://www.publicjobs.ie/ | ||
| Dormant Accounts Board | 2006-01-04 | 2012-12-31 | Composed after the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board was dissolved--government was given discretion over accounts | Dormant Account Acts 2001 and 2005; Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2012 |
| Education Finance Board | 2006-02-17 | 2013-03-29 | The Commission to Inquire Into Child Abuse (Amendment) Act 2005; Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012; S.I. No. 96/2013; Written Answers, Wednesday, 22 January 2014, No. 80 - Departmental Bodies Establishment | |
| National Property Services Regulatory Authority | 2006-12-01 | http://www.npsra.ie/; 'Debate on property regulation bill to start in Seanad next week' Irish Times, 14 May 2009; Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 | ||
| Property Registration Authority | 2006-11-04 | 2023-03-01 | Replaced the Registrar of Deeds and Titles (est. in 1964) as the 'registering authority' in relation to property registration in Ireland. Subsequently merged with Ordnance Survey Ireland and Valuation Office into Tailte Éireann | Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006; http://www.landregistry.ie/eng/; Tailte Éireann Act 2022 (No. 50 of 2022); S.I. No. 58/2023; https://http://www.valoff.ie/en/about-us/tailte-eireann/ |
| Citizens Information Board | 2007-02-21 | Formerly known as the National Social Services Board (1984-2000) and Comhairle (2000-2007) | Citizens Information Act 2007; http://www.citizensinformationboard.ie/ | |
| Local Appointments Commission | 1926-01-01 | 2004-10-19 | In 2004, the Civil Service Commissioners (1956-2004) and Local Appointments Commissioners (1926-2004) were dissolved and substituted by the Commission for Public Service Appointments | Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Act, 1926; Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 |
| Civil Service Commissioners (II) | 1957-02-18 | 2004-10-19 | In 2004, the Civil Service Commissioners (1956-2004) and Local Appointments Commissioners (1926-2004) were dissolved and substituted by the Commission for Public Service Appointments | Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956; S.I. No. 17/1957; Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 |
| Public Offices Commission | 1995-11-01 | 2001-12-10 | Replaced by Standards in Public Office Commission | Ethics in Public Office Act 1995; Standards in Public Office Act, 2001 |
| Public Service Advisory Council | 1973-11-01 | 1987-01-01 | Ministers and Secretaries Act 1973; S.I. No. 293/1973; Dáil Éireann - Volume 422 - 08 July, 1992--Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Service Advisory Council | |
| Companies Registration Office | 1908-01-01 | Also Registrar of Friendly Societies (plan to formally merge) | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.cro.ie/; Companies Acts, 1908 To 1917; Companies (Re-Constitution of Records) Act, 1924; Registration of Business Names Act, 1963 | |
| Land Registry | 1892-01-01 | 2006-11-04 | Land Registry - pre-independence body that was subsumed into Home Affairs in 1922 and then Justice. Merged into Property Registration Authority in 2006 | http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PR07000396; Dáil Éireann - Volume 588 - 06 July, 2004--Written Answers. - Departmental Bodies |
| Registry of Deeds | 1707-01-01 | 2006-11-04 | Merged with Land Registry into Property Registration Authority | http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PR07000396; http://www.landregistry.ie/eng/About_Us/Registry_of_Deeds_Services/ |
| Public Trustee | 1903-11-01 | 1992-01-01 | Irish Land Act 1903; Public Trustee Rules, 1904, 1908, 1927 (S.I. No. 14/1927) and 1947 (S.I. No. 94/1947); Seanad Éireann - Volume 134 - 21 October, 1992--Irish Land Commission (Dissolution) Bill, 1989: Second Stage | |
| Local Government Management Agency | 2012-08-01 | http://www.lgcsb.ie/en; S.I. No. 290/2012 | ||
| Insolvency Service of Ireland | 2013-03-01 | Personal Insolvency Act 2012; http://www.isi.gov.ie/ | ||
| Ireland Strategic Investment Fund | 2014-12-22 | ISIF has a statutory mandate to invest on a commercial basis in a manner designed to support economic activity and employment in Ireland. Its predecessor was the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF). | www.ntma.ie; www.isif.ie; National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014; S.I. No. 586/2014 | |
| Tax Appeals Commission | 2016-03-21 | Replaced the Office of the Appeal Commissioners | www.taxappeals.ie; Finance (Tax Appeals) Act 2015; S.I. No. 111/2016 | |
| Legal Services Regulatory Authority | 2016-10-01 | www.lsra.ie; Legal Services Regulation Act 2015; S.I. No. 507/2016 | ||
| National Shared Services Office | 2018-01-01 | The National Shared Services Office (NSSO) is a Scheduled Body which is a Shared Services provider for HR, pensions and payroll administration for Government Departments and Bodies. | www.gov.ie; National Shared Services Office Act 2017; S.I. No. 579/2017 | |
| Electricity Commissioners | 1919-12-23 | 1924-06-19 | The Electricity Commissioners was established ‘to promote, regulate and supervise the supply of electricity’ under the direction of the Board of Trade. It provided for the formation of electricity districts and, where necessary, the establishment of joint electricity authorities, ‘to provide or secure the provision of a cheap and abundant supply of electricity’ | Electricity (Supply) Act 1919 (9 & 10 Geo. 5. c. 100); Electricity Commissioners (Transfer of Functions) Order 1924 (No. 7 of 1924) |
| Local Government Board for Ireland | 1872-08-10 | 1924-06-02 | The Local Government Board for Ireland took over the functions of the Irish Poor Law Commissioners with respect to Boards of Guardians of Poor Law Unions, and also dealt with urban municipal government (town commissioners and borough corporations). The Board continued for a time post-independence, though its personnel and functions were moved to other parts of the Government administration. The Board's functions appear to have been formally subsumed into the Department of Local Government and Public Health by 1924 | Local Government Board (Ireland) Act 1872; Third Part of the Schedule to the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 (No. 16 of 1924); Mary E. Daly, 'The Buffer State: The Historical Roots of the Department of the Environment' (Institute of Public Administration, 1997) |
| Office of the Paymaster General | 1861-01-01 | The Office of the Paymaster General, including its Ireland-related functions, was formed in 1861 with the merger of a number of pre-existing offices, including the Paymaster of the Civil Service in Ireland. The Office continued in being post-independence. The Office has two operational arms: one provides a banking service to Departments and Offices while the other pays pensions on an agency basis to certain retired civil servants, office holders and VEC staff. The Office is administered from within the Department of Finance | https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Belfast/issue/39/page/379; First Part of the Schedule to the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 (No. 16 of 1924); https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2012-01-31.867.0 | |
| Office of Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam | 2023-03-20 | The Office of Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam, is mandated to, inter alia, arrange for the forensic excavation and recovery of human remains buried in a manifestly inappropriate manner and to make final arrangements for human remains recovered. The establishment of this Office relates, in particular, to inappropriate historic burials of childrens' remains on the grounds of a Mother and Baby Home at Tuam, County Galway | Ministerial Order under section 9(1) of the Institutional Burials Act 2022 (No. 18 of 2022) |