‘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
73 results
Name
| From
| To
| Description
| Source
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office of Public Works | 1831-08-01 | Also known as Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland; includes the Government Supplies Agency | McGauran et al. 2005; www.opw.ie; Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924 | |
| Royal Irish Academy of Music | 1848-01-01 | Founded in 1848, The Royal Irish Academy of Music is Ireland’s oldest conservatoire | McGauran et al. 2005; www.riam.ie, the Educational Endowments (Ireland) Act 1885 | |
| National Gallery of Ireland | 1854-08-10 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.nationalgallery.ie/; National Gallery of Ireland Acts 1854 to 1963 | ||
| National Museum of Ireland | 1997-01-01 | Consists of four separate museum buildings: the NMI - Archaeology and History (1890), the NMI - Decorative Arts and History (1997), the NMI - Natural History (1857), the NMI Country Life (2001). | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.museum.ie/ National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 | |
| National Theatre Society Ltd. | 1925-01-01 | 2006-01-31 | Abbey Theatre established in 1903, nationalised in 1925 as the National Theatre Society Limited. On 31 January 2006 this company was dissolved and all assets and liabilities were transferred to a newly established company, Abbey Theatre Amharclann Na Mainistreach, which now runs the theatre. | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.abbeytheatre.ie/ |
| Irish Film Censor's Office (IFCO) | 1923-07-16 | 2008-07-20 | Replaced by Irish Film Classification Office in 2008 | McGauran et al. 2005; www.ifco.ie; Censorship of Films Act, 1923; the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 |
| Arts Council | 1951-05-08 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.artscouncil.ie/; The Arts Acts 1951; 1973 and 2003 | ||
| Chester Beatty Library | 1969-01-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.cbl.ie/; Chester Beatty Library Acts 1968 and 1986 | ||
| Crafts Council of Ireland | 1976-09-21 | Previously a volunteer body (formed 1971), nationalised in 1976 as a limited company under the Dept of Industry and Commerce. Since 19 January 2014 is primarily referred to as the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland. | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.dccoi.ie/ | |
| Screen Ireland | 1981-08-14 | Known as the Irish Film Board until renamed Screen Ireland in June 2018. Hiatus between 1987 and 1993 (see Dáil Éireann - Volume 373 - 25 June, 1987-- Estimates, 1987. - Vote 3: Department of the Taoiseach (Revised Estimate) and 'Higgins move to reactivate film board welcomed' P Woodworth, Irish Times, 31/03/1993). | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/; Irish Film Board Act 1980; S.I. No. 282/1981; Irish Film Board (Amendment) Act 1993; Irish Film Board (Amendment) Act 1997; Irish Film Board (Amendment) Act 2000; National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Act 2015; S.I. No. 182/2018 | |
| National Concert Hall Ltd. | 1981-09-09 | Functions of RTÉ relating to orchestras and choirs were transferred to the NCH on 28 February 2023 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.nch.ie/; National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) (Amendment) Act 2023 (No. 1 of 2023); S.I. No. 130/2023 | |
| President's Award | 1985-03-28 | Gaisce or ‘great achievement’ is a self-development programme for young people between the ages of 15-25 and has been in existence since 1985. | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.gaisce.ie/; Finance Act, 1985 (Section 16) | |
| Irish Museum of Modern Art | 1991-05-25 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.modernart.ie/; National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 | ||
| Discovery Programme Ltd. | 1991-05-11 | Was initially set up through a personal initiative of the then Taoiseach Charles Haughey; it is a company limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital and is now funded by the Heritage Council | http://www.discoveryprogramme.ie/; Dáil Éireann - Volume 437 - 15 December, 1993--Written Answers. - Discovery Programme | |
| Temple Bar Cultural Trust | 1990-10-24 | 2014-01-01 | Dissolved, in April 2013 the Board of the Temple Bar Cultural Trust requested that Dublin City Council (the Shareholder) begin the process of winding down the Trust and for the council to take over the responsibilities, functions and assets of the Trust. | http://www.templebar.ie/; www.discoverireland.ie/Arts-Culture-Heritage/temple-bar-cultural-trust-and-temple-bar-cultural-information-centre/31040; www.irishtimes.com/culture/council-assumes-full-control-of-temple-bar-cultural-trust-1.1712075 |
| Irish Horse Board | 1993-10-30 | 2008-01-01 | Absorbed into Horse Sport Ireland as the Breeding Sub-Board of Horse Sport Ireland. | http://www.irishsporthorse.com/; Dáil Éireann - Volume 613 - 25 January, 2006--Written Answers. - Irish Horse Board; 'Equestrian: Kennedy slams IHB plans for merger' Parkes, L., Irish Independent, 4 June 2008; 'Walsh launches new Horse Board' Irish Independent, 1 November 1993. |
| Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism | 2002-06-19 | 2010-05-02 | S.I. 309/2002; S.I. No. 178/2010 | |
| Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government | 2003-06-10 | 2011-05-02 | http://www.environ.ie/; S.I. No. 233/2003; S.I. No. 193/2011 | |
| Heritage Council | 1995-07-10 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/; Heritage Act 1995 | ||
| Department of Tourism, Fisheries, and Forestry | 1986-02-19 | 1987-03-18 | Tourism policy area added from Industry, Trade, Commerce, and Tourism in 1986 (S.I. No. 42/1986). It was moved again in 1987 to the Department of Tourism and Transport (S.I. No. 95/1987) | Coakley & Gallagher 2005; S.I. No. 40/1986; S.I. No. 42/1986; S.I. No. 82/1987; S.I. No. 95/1987 |
| Department of Tourism and Transport (II) | 1987-03-20 | 1991-02-06 | S.I. 83/1987; S.I. 25/1991; http://www.transport.ie/; IPA Administration Journal 2007, Vol. 55 No. 1 | |
| Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications | 1991-02-07 | 1993-01-22 | http://www.transport.ie/; IPA Administration Journal 2007, Vol. 55 No. 1; S.I. No. 25/1991; S.I. No. 17/1993 | |
| Department of Tourism and Trade | 1993-01-20 | 1997-07-11 | S.I. No. 16/1993; S.I. No. 304/1997; IPA Administration Journal 2007, Vol. 55 No. 1 | |
| Department of Tourism and Transport (I) | 1977-09-24 | 1980-01-24 | Tourism policy responsibility transferred to Industry, Commerce and Tourism in 1980 | Coakley & Gallagher 2005; S.I. No. 305/1977; S.I. No. 11/1980 |
| Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation | 1997-07-12 | 2002-06-18 | Formerly Department of Tourism and Trade; Arts Policy added to form Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism in 2002 | S.I. 304/1997; S.I. 309/2002; IPA Administration Journal 2007, Vol. 55 No. 1 |
| Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism | 1981-08-21 | 1983-12-16 | Coakley & Gallagher 2005; S.I. No. 290/1981; S.I. No. 384/1983 | |
| Department of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism | 1980-01-23 | 1981-08-20 | Responsibility for tourism transferred from Department of Tourism and Transport (S.I. No. 8/1980) | Coakley & Gallagher 2005; S.I. No. 10/1980; S.I. No. 290 of 1981 |
| Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht | 1993-01-20 | 1997-07-12 | S.I. 22/1993; S.I. No. 306/1997; IPA Administration Journal 2007, Vol. 55 No. 1 | |
| Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht, and the Islands | 1997-07-12 | 2002-06-19 | IPA Administration Journal 2007, Vol. 55 No. 1; S.I. No. 306/1997; S.I. No. 308/2002 | |
| 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 | ||
| Tourism Ireland Ltd. | 2000-12-11 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.tourismireland.com/; Belfast Agreement of Good Friday 1998; CRO | ||
| An Coimisinéir Teanga | 2004-02-23 | Official Languages Act 2003; http://www.coimisineir.ie/ | ||
| Fáilte Ireland | 2003-05-28 | McGauran et al. 2005; National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003; http://www.failteireland.ie/ | ||
| Culture Ireland | 2005-02-01 | 2013-01-31 | Note: Plans announced in Feb 2007 to make Culture Ireland a statutory body never materialised. On 31 Jan. 2013, a Delegation Order delegated the functions of directing Culture Ireland to a Principal Officer within the Dept. of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. | http://www.cultureireland.ie/; Dept. of Public Expenditure and Reform 'Summary of agency rationalisation measures as at January 2014', Table B http://per.gov.ie/summary-of-agency-rationalisation-measures-as-at-january-2014/; Written answers, Thursday, 7 March 2013 - Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Departmental Appointments |
| Gaeltarra Éireann | 1958-04-01 | 1980-01-01 | Took over administration of Rural Industries previously administered by the Gaeltacht Services Division. Replaced by Údarás na Gaeltachta-1980 | Gaeltacht Industries Acts, 1957 to 1977; Údarás na Gaeltachta Act, 1979 |
| Bord na Gaeilge | 1978-11-01 | 1999-12-02 | Merged into Foras na Gaeilge in 1999. | Bord na Gaeilge Act, 1978; the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999; the North-South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) Northern Ireland Order 1999 |
| Department of Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism | 1983-12-17 | 1986-02-19 | Responsibility for industry transferred from Dept of Industry and Energy in 1983 | Coakley & Gallagher 2005; S.I. No. 384/1983; S.I. No. 41/1986 |
| Department of the Gaeltacht | 1956-07-02 | 1993-01-19 | MINISTERS AND SECRETARIES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1956; S.I. 22/1993; IPA Administration Journal 2007, Vol. 55 No. 1 | |
| Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs | 2002-06-19 | 2010-06-02 | S.I. No. 308/2002; S.I. No. 215/2010 | |
| Department of the Taoiseach | 1937-07-01 | http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/; Constitution (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1937 | ||
| National Heritage Council | 1988-09-05 | 1995-07-10 | Predecessor of Heritage Council | http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/ |
| Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge | 1952-09-05 | 2008-01-01 | Absorbed into Foras na Gaeilge; functions are now carried out under the name of Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge | http://www.gaeilge.ie/Foras_na_Gaeilge/Clar_na_Leabhar_Gaeilge.asp; 'Book Body Meets' the Irish Press, 5 Sept. 1952; http://www.educationmatters.ie/2007/10/31/irish-language-books-board-disbanded/ |
| Irish Folklore Commission | 1935-04-01 | 1971-04-01 | Archives now held at UCD | S.I. No. 16/1957; S.I. No. 193/1957; http://www.ucd.ie/ucdnews/may95/folklore.html; O'Sullivan, S. (1974) 'The Work of the Irish Folklore Commission', University College Dublin. |
| Bord Fáilte Éireann | 1955-07-01 | 2003-05-28 | Replaced An Bord Fáilte and Fógra Fáilte, added publishing/publicity functions. Replaced by National Tourism Development Authority (Fáilte Ireland) | Tourist Traffic Act 1955; National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003 |
| Telefís na Gaelige | 2007-04-01 | Was established as a wholly owned subsidiary by RTE in 1996. It was established as independent public corporation in 2007 (Broadcasting Act 2001) | http://www.tg4.ie/bearla/; Broadcasting Act 2001 | |
| National Film Studios of Ireland | 1975-06-01 | 1982-04-01 | Ardmore Film Studios were purchased by the Government in 1973, run by RTE until 1975 when name changed to NFSI; statutory basis in 1980; closed and went into receivership & company liquidated April 1982 | National Film Studios of Ireland Limited Act, 1980; Dáil Éireann - Volume 334 - 18 May, 1982--Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ardmore Studios Closure; Dáil Éireann - Volume 340 - 02 March, 1983--Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - National Film Studios |
| National Monuments Advisory Council | 1930-08-02 | 1990-01-01 | Lapsed while legislation to establish replacement body (Historic Monuments Council) pending enactment (see Dáil Éireann - Volume 418 - 08 April, 1992--Written Answers. - National Monuments Advisory Council), ultimately replaced by Heritage Council under Heritage Act, 1995 | National Monuments Acts, 1930 to 1987; Heritage Act 1995; Dáil Éireann - Volume 168 - 12 June, 1958--Written Answers. - State-sponsored Companies, Commissions, Committees and Advisory Councils |
| An Coiste Téarmaíochta | 1968-01-01 | 1999-12-02 | Committees of Irish-language experts were set up as early as 1927 in order to provide terminology for the education system. An Buanchoiste Téarmaíochta (The Permanent Terminology Committee) was established by the Minister of Education in 1968. Merged into Foras na Gaeilge 1999 | the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999; the North-South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) Northern Ireland Order 1999; http://gaeilge.ie/Foras_na_Gaeilge/The_Terminology_Committee.asp |
| Institiúid Teangeolaíochta Éireann | 1972-10-27 | 2004-01-09 | Dáil Éireann - Volume 577 - 16 December, 2003--Written Answers. - Institiúid Teangeolaíochta Éireann; http://web.archive.org/web/20030607005819/http://ite.ie/index.htm | |
| Archbishop Marsh's Library | 1707-01-01 | http://www.marshlibrary.ie/; An Act for settling and preserving a publick library for ever…, 1707; S.I. No. 8/1970; National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 | ||
| Comhairle na Gaeilge | 1969-06-13 | 1978-11-01 | predecessor of Bord na Gaeilge | Seanad Éireann - Volume 89 - 07 June, 1978--An Bille um Bord na Gaeilge, 1978: An Dara Céim. Bord na Gaeilge Bill, 1978: Second Stage; 'Taking another look at Irish: Haughey's new council' Irish Times, 14 June 1969 |
| An Bord Fáilte | 1952-07-03 | 1955-07-01 | Replaced Irish Tourist Board; Replaced by Bord Fáilte Éireann | Tourist Traffic Act 1952; Tourist Traffic Act 1955 |
| Irish Tourist Board | 1939-08-01 | 1952-07-03 | Replaced by An Bord Failte | Tourist Traffic Act, 1939; Tourist Traffic Act, 1952 |
| Kilkenny Design Workshops Ltd | 1963-04-19 | 1988-11-01 | Transferred to Kilkenny Civic Trust in Nov 1988 | Kilkenny Design Workshops Limited Act, 1982; Seanad Éireann - Volume 119 - 26 May, 1988--Adjournment Matter. - Kilkenny Design Workshops |
| Abbey Theatre Amharclann na Mainistreach | 2006-01-31 | Replaced the National Theatre Society Ltd. as the company with responsibility for the Abbey Theatre | www.abbeytheatre.ie/; Dáil Éireann - Volume 647 - 13 February, 2008--Written Answers. - Departmental Bodies | |
| National Museum of Science and Art | 1877-08-14 | 1997-01-01 | Became the National Museum of Ireland | http://www.museum.ie/ Dublin Science and Art Museum Act 1877; National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 |
| Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) | 2008-07-20 | Replaced Irish Film Censor's Office | www.ifco.ie; Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 | |
| Censorship of Films Appeals Board | 1923-07-16 | 2008-07-20 | Censorship of Films Act, 1923; Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 | |
| Classification of Films Appeal Board | 2008-07-20 | Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008; www.ifco.ie | ||
| Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport | 2010-05-02 | 2011-06-02 | Replaced Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism; Replaced by Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht | S.I. No. 178/2010; S.I. No. 220/2011 |
| Council of National Cultural Institutions | 2001-12-21 | Heritage Fund Act 2001; http://www.cnci.ie/ | ||
| Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht | 2011-06-02 | 2016-07-07 | Creation: S.I. No. 220/2011; Termination: S.I. No. 357/2016; http://www.ahg.gov.ie/ | |
| Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport | 2011-04-02 | 2020-09-17 | Succeeded by Department of Transport (III). Tourism and Sport responsibilities also transferred to new Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media | S.I. No. 141/2011; http://www.transport.ie/; S.I. No. 351/2020; S.I. No. 356/2020 |
| Crawford Art Gallery | 2006-12-06 | In 2006, a new company, Crawford Art Gallery Cork Ltd., was established by the Minister of Arts, Sport and Tourism to manage the Gallery, and the Gallery was designated a National Cultural Institution. | http://www.crawfordartgallery.ie/; http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/AboutUs/AgenciesBodiesunderDepartmentsAegis/; Companies Registration Office | |
| Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs | 2016-07-07 | 2017-08-01 | Creation of new Department by Enda Kenny following election 2016 and minority government. Formerly Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht | Creation: S.I. No. 357/2016; Termination: S.I. No. 350/2017; Dail Debates 6 May 2016 www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2016-05-06/8/ ; www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Culture,_Heritage_and_the_Gaeltacht Note: Name announced by Taoiseach was Rural Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht but SI was Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. |
| Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht | 2017-08-01 | 2020-09-30 | New Department following election of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach; succeeds Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Rural affairs function formally moves to new Department of Community and Rural Affairs in 2018. Subsequently replaced by Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Heritage responsibilities also transferred to new Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage | S.I. No. 350/2017 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2017, http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2017/si/350; Also http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/si/165/made/en/print; S.I. No. 403/2020; S.I. No. 339/2020 |
| Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media | 2020-09-30 | Replaced Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht | S.I. No. 403/2020 | |
| Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage | 2020-09-30 | Replaced Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government; https://www.housing.gov.ie/ | S.I. No. 408/2020 | |
| 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) |
| Office of Arms | 1552-02-02 | 1943-04-01 | The Office of Arms was Ireland's oldest Office of State, formally established in the 16th century to perform heraldic and genealogical functions. The Office was peculiar in that it retained a direct link to the British Crown through its officeholder until 1943, when it was transferred to the Irish public administration | S. Hood, 'Royal Roots, Republican Inheritance: The Survival of the Office of Arms' (2002, Woodfield Press) ('Hood') |