Jim Breslin

Jim Breslin was appointed as the first Secretary General of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in July 2020. The Secretary General is the senior civil servant and non-political head of the Department and is responsible for the effective and efficient management of the Department.

The Mission of the Department is to: “develop Ireland’s further and higher education and research systems to support people in reaching their full potential and to create value, prosperity, resilience and a cohesive, sustainable and vibrant society."

Under the Public Service Management Act 1997 (No.27 of 1977), the Secretary General of the Department has the following responsibilities:

• managing the business generally of the Department;
• implementing Government policies appropriate to the Department;
• monitoring Government policies that affect the Department;
• delivering outputs as determined by the Minister;
• providing policy advice to the Minister on all matters within the remit of the Department;
• preparing Statements of Strategy for submission to the Minister;
• providing progress reports to the Minister on the implementation of the Statement of Strategy;
• ensuring proper use of resources and the provision of cost-effective public services;
• preparing an outline of how specific responsibilities are to be assigned to other officers down through the Department;
• managing matters relating to appointments, performance, discipline and dismissal of civil servants below the grade of Principal or its equivalent.