National Council For Educational Awards Act, 1979

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Functions of Council.

3.—(1) The functions of the Council shall be generally to encourage, facilitate, promote, co-ordinate and develop technical, industrial, scientific, technological and commercial education, and education in art or design, provided outside the universities, whether professional, vocational or technical, and to encourage and promote liberal education.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of this section, the Council may—

(a) confer, grant or give degrees, diplomas, certificates or other educational awards to or on persons who—

(i) (I) the Council is satisfied have attended or otherwise pursued or followed courses of study or instruction conducted by, or provided under the supervision of, an institution to which this Act applies and which are courses which for the time being stand approved of by the Council, and

(II) have either—

(A) attained a standard regarded by the Council as satisfactory in examinations or other tests of knowledge or ability which are either prescribed or set by the Council or for the time being stand so approved of and relate to such courses, or

(B) performed in a manner regarded by the Council as satisfactory other exercises which both so relate and for the time being stand so approved of,

or

(ii) have either attained a standard regarded by the Council as satisfactory in examinations or other tests of knowledge or ability or have performed other exercises in a manner regarded by the Council as satisfactory and who have carried out, under the supervision of an institution to which this Act applies, and in a manner regarded as satisfactory by the Council, a programme of research approved of by the Council,

(b) either recognise a degree, diploma, certificate or other educational award conferred, granted or given to persons who successfully complete such courses, or approve of such course of study or instruction, if it is satisfied that the standard in general of both—

(i) a particular course of study or instruction conducted by, or provided under the supervision of, an institution to which this Act applies and relating to professional, scientific or vocational education (which course may be concerned with liberal arts), and

(ii) the examinations or other tests of knowledge or ability conducted in relation to such course,

corresponds or is analogous to any relevant standards for the time being in force in universities,

(c) assess the standard maintained for the time being by any institution to which this Act applies as regards any course of study or instruction approved of by the Council,

(d) for the purpose of promoting degrees, diplomas, certificates or other educational awards conferred, granted or given by it—

(i) take such steps as it considers appropriate either within or outside the State,

(ii) co-ordinate, or assist in co-ordinating, in such manner as it considers appropriate, any two or more such courses of study or instruction conducted by, or provided under the supervision of, one or more institutions to which this Act applies,

(iii) for the purpose of enabling them to attend or otherwise pursue or follow any such course, assist the transfer of students from one such institution to another such institution,

(e) through an tÚdarás advise the Minister in relation to the cost of providing, or continuing to provide, or the financing of any course of study or instruction approved of by the Council or the cost of modifying any course of study or instruction to the extent necessary to secure its approval by the Council.

(3) (a) The Minister may, with the concurrence of the Minister for the Public Service and after consultation with such other Minister of the Government (if any) as the Minister considers to be concerned, by order assign to the Council such functions relating to technical, industrial, scientific, technological or commercial education, or education in art or design, (being functions additional to those assigned by this Act) as the Minister thinks fit.

(b) Where an order under this section is proposed to be made, a draft of the order shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the order shall not be made until a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by each such House.

(4) In performing its functions the Council shall bear constantly in mind the national aims of restoring the Irish language and preserving and developing the national culture and shall endeavour to promote the attainment of those aims.

(5) (a) Any degree, diploma, certificate or other educational award conferred, granted or given to or on a person by the body of persons which, immediately before the commencement of the Act, called itself the National Council for Educational Awards, shall, from such commencement be regarded as having been conferred, granted, or given by the Council.

(b) Any course of study or instruction conducted by, or provided under the supervision of an institution to which this Act applies and which, immediately before the commencement of this Act, stood approved of by the body of persons referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall for the purposes of the Act be regarded as having been approved of by the Council immediately after the commencement of this Act.

(6) The Council may attach conditions (including conditions requiring arrangements to be made and maintained to enable persons attending or otherwise pursuing or following courses of study or instruction to gain industrial or commercial experience) to any approval or recognition given under this Act, vary such conditions, and withdraw any such approval or recognition.