Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

164. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the planned reform of the Higher Education Authority Act 1971; the consultation process involved; and if a response has issued from a university (details supplied) in relation to same. [7373/20]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Higher Education Authority Act, 1971 established the Higher Education Authority (HEA), set out the functions of the HEA and provided for the governance of the HEA. The Act also provided that the HEA is the statutory funding authority for the universities, institutes of technology and a number of other designated institutions and provided for the financial monitoring of the designated higher education institutions by the HEA. The Act established the HEA as the advisory body to the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to the higher education sector.

An extensive consultation process has been undertaken by the Department of Education and Skills on the updating of the HEA legislation during 2018 and 2019. This consultation process commenced with a request for written submissions in July 2018. A consultation forum was held in November 2018 and those who participated in the consultation process and key stakeholders from the sector were invited to attend. A report of the 2018 consultation process and the response by the Department of Education and Skills to the views expressed and issues raised in the Consultation process was prepared. Following review by Government, this report of the Consultation process was published in July 2019. This report outlines the views expressed by participants in the 2018 written consultation process and at the consultation forum. It also provides the response by the Department of Education and Skills to the views expressed and issues raised in the consultation process and provides an overview of the proposed legislation. An outline of the Legislative Proposals for the reform of the Higher Education Act, 1971 was also published at the same time.

A further request for written submissions on the proposals for the development of the HEA legislation was issued in July 2019. The views of stakeholders on the consultation report and the legislative proposals were sought by the end of September 2019.

The university referenced participated in the consultation forum in November 2018 and also made a written submission as part of the July 2019 consultation process. The details of the consultation process and copies of all submissions are published on the Department of Education and Skills website.

The Government approved the preparation of a General Scheme of a Bill to replace the Higher Education Authority Act, 1971 in July 2019. Work is ongoing in the development of the legislation taking into consideration the views received from the consultation process and further consultation undertaken with key stakeholders.