Higher Education – Governance and Financial Section and Qualifications Units

The Higher Education (Governance and Financial) Section is responsible for formulating and reviewing budgetary allocations for the provision of higher education along with governance matters in the sector.

The governance and funding of the universities, institutes of technology and other Higher Education Authority (HEA) designated institutions is made via the HEA. The HEA deals with the individual budgets of the institutions and makes resources available as required. Other non-designated HEA institutions are funded directly by the department through a core grant, and in the case of some institutions, grant in lieu of tuition fee funding is provided.

This section is also involved in determining the criteria for the free tuition fees scheme which is administered by the third level institutions.

Higher Education (Governance and Financial) Section

• allocation of recurrent funding of the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The HEA is a statutory body under the aegis of the department. Its functions include the funding of universities and designated third level institutions and the development of third level education.
• overseeing the governance of the universities, institutes of technology and other HEA designated institutions.
• approving operational recurrent budgets for certain non-HEA institutions
• promotion of systems of accountability in the sector
• overview of free fees schemes.

Qualifications Section:

• support the development and implementation of the National Framework of Qualifications and associated policies on quality assurance of providers of education and training through Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)
• co-ordinate and implement EU Directive 2005/36/ EC (Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications).