Unit Information

‘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

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33 results

Name
From
To
Description
Source
National Library of Ireland1877-01-01Was established as an autonomous cultural institution in May 2005 under the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997. The Library on Kildare Street in Dublin was opened to the public on 29 August 1890. The Industrial and Commercial Property (Protection) Act 1927 gave the NLI legal deposit status for the first time. In 1986-1992 was under the aegis of the Dept. of An Taoiseach. In 1992 (until present) was transferred to the Dept. of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (now under Arts, Sports and Tourism) McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.nli.ie/en/homepage.aspx; National Cultural Institutions Act 1997; Industrial and Commercial Property (Protection) Act 1927; Dublin Science and Art Museum Act 1877; Irish Times, 28 August 1890
Foras Áiseanna Saothair1988-01-012013-10-27McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.fas.ie/; Labour Services Act 1987; Further Education and Training Act 2013; http:/​/​www.solas.ie/​
An Chomhairle Oiliúna1967-05-151988-01-01Merge 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 Agency1982-01-271988-01-01Merge with AnCO and National Manpower Service into FASYouth Employment Agency Act, 1981; S.I. No. 16/1982; Labour Services Act 1987; S.I. No. 248/1987
Department of Education and Science1997-10-012010-05-02http://www.education.ie/; S.I. No. 430/1997; S.I. No. 184/2010
Fulbright Commission Ireland1992-02-03An 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 Ireland1993-01-012009-11-30ceased trading on 30th November 2009 and its main functions transferred to Enterprise IrelandMcGauran et al. 2005; http://www.educationireland.ie/
National Centre for Guidence in Education1995-06-01National 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 practiceMcGauran et al. 2005; http://www.ncge.ie/
An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta2002-03-01COGG was founded to establish a structure to cater for the educational needs of Gaeltacht schools and of Gaelscoileanna. COGG's role relates to both primary and post-primary education.McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.cogg.ie/; Education Act 1998
National Centre for Technology in Education1998-03-012011-09-01No 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
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment1987-12-08Put on statutory footing by Education Act 1998McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.ncca.ie/; Written Answers - National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Tuesday, 8 April 1997, Dáil Éireann Debate, Vol. 477 No. 2; Education Act 1998; S.I. No. 470/1999
An Foras Teanga1999-12-02Also 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 TeangaMcGauran 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 Gaeilge1999-12-02McGauran 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-Scotch1999-12-02McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.ulsterscotsagency.com/; the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999; the North-South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) Northern Ireland Order 1999
Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences2000-01-012012-03-29McGauran et al. 2005; http://research.ie/; Written answers, Tuesday, 13 May 2014, Department of Education and Skills -Departmental Bodies Data
Science Foundation Ireland2003-07-252024-08-01Was established in 2000 as a sub-board of Forfás. In 2003 was established on a statutory basis. It was folded into Taighde Éireann on 1 August 2024.McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.sfi.ie/; Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Act 2003
Further Education and Training Awards Council2001-06-112012-11-06Is responisble for making awards previously made by BIM, Fáilte Ireland (CERT), FÁS, NCVA and Teagasc; will merge with HETAC and NQAI after 2008 budgetMcGauran 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/​
Higher Education and Training Awards Council 2001-06-112012-11-06It is a successor body to the National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA) which was established in 1979McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.hetac.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 Technology2001-06-012012-03-29McGauran et al. 2005; http://research.ie/; Written answers, Tuesday, 13 May 2014, Department of Education and Skills -Departmental Bodies Data
Irish Universities Quality Board2003-02-012012-11-06Universities Act 1997 set up Quality Assurance framework, from which the IUQB was developed; CRO has it registered form 21/02/06http://www.iuqb.ie/; Universities Act 1997; Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012; S.I. No. 436/2012; http:/​/​www.qualificationsandquality.ie/​
National Education Welfare Board2002-07-052014-01-01McGauran et al. 2005; Education (Welfare) Act 2000; http://www.newb.ie/; Child and Family Agency Act 2013
National Council for Special Education2003-12-24First 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/
State Examinations Commission2003-03-06The Commission assumed responsibility from the Dept. of Education and Science from 2003 onwardsMcGauran et al. 2005; Education Act 1998; S.I. No.373/2003; http://www.examinations.ie/
Special Education Appeals Board2006-04-03Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004
Advisory Council for Science Technology and Innovation2005-04-012012-01-01Established 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/
Department of Education (I)1924-06-011997-09-30Renamed the Department of Education and ScienceS.I. 430/1997; Coakley & Gallagher 2005; Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924
Teaching Council2006-03-28Replaced the Registration Council for Secondary Teachershttp://www.teachingcouncil.ie/; Teaching Council Act, 2001; S.I. No. 185/2006
Council for Education, Recruitment and Training for the Hotel Industry1963-11-072003-05-28Established by Bord Fáilte; Functions transferred to National Tourism Development Authority (Fáilte Ireland) and FETAC now has responsibility for awardsNational Tourism Development Authority Act 2003; http://web.archive.org/web/20010201150400/http://www.cert.ie/
Department of Education and Skills2010-05-022020-10-22Succeeded by Department of Education (II) and some functions transferred to new Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Sciencehttp://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
Irish Research Council2012-03-292024-08-01The mission of the Irish Research Council is to enable and sustain a vibrant research community in Ireland. The Irish Research Council was folded into Taighde Éireann 1 August 2024http://www.research.ie/; 'New body sees value of research' Irish Times, 26 April 2012; S.I. No. 375/2024
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board2013-03-25The Board of the Fund oversees the use of cash contributions of up to €110m pledged by the religious congregations to support the needs of some 15,000 survivors of residential institutional child abuseResidential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012; S.I. No. 95/2013; Written Answers, Wednesday, 22 January 2014, No. 80 - Departmental Bodies Establishment; http://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Agencies/Residential-Institutions-Statutory-Fund-Board.html; http://www.caranua.ie/
Development Education Advisory Committee 2003-01-012013-09-01Written answers, Tuesday, 13 May 2014, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Departmental Bodies Data; http://www.irishaid.ie/about-us/our-organisation/our-advisory-groups/development-education-advisory-committee/; "Deepening Public understanding of International Development: development education strategy plan 2003-2005", Department of Foreign Affairs
Department of Education (II)2020-10-22Replaced Department of Education and Skills and followed transfer of certain functions to new Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and ScienceS.I. No. 450/2020; https://www.education.ie/en/