Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999

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Functions of Council.

23.—(1) The functions of the Council shall be as follows:

(a) to establish and publish, in such form and manner as it thinks fit, policies and criteria for—

(i) the making of higher education and training awards, and

(ii) the validation of programmes of higher education and training,

and to review such policies and criteria not less than once in every five years;

(b) to determine standards of knowledge, skill or competence to be acquired by learners—

(i) before a higher education and training award may be made by the Council or by a recognised institution to which authority to make awards has been delegated under section 29 , or

(ii) who request from the Council recognition of an award made by a body other than the Council or a recognised institution to which authority to make awards has been delegated under section 29 ;

(c) to make or recognise higher education and training awards given or to be given to persons who apply for those awards and who, in the opinion of the Council, have achieved the standard determined by the Council under paragraph (b);

(d) to monitor and evaluate the quality of programmes of education and training in respect of which awards are made or recognised under paragraph (c);

(e) to ensure that—

(i) providers of programmes of education and training whose programmes are validated under section 25 , and

(ii) recognised institutions to which authority to make awards has been delegated under section 29 ,

establish procedures for the assessment of learners which are fair and consistent and for the purpose of compliance with standards determined by the Council under paragraph (b);

(f) to promote the higher education and training awards of the Council;

(g) to facilitate and assist the Authority in carrying out its functions;

(h) to consult with and advise the Minister or any other Minister, as the case may be, on such matters in respect of its functions as the Minister or any other Minister may request or as the Council thinks fit, and to inform the Authority of any such consultation and advice, and

(i) to do all such acts or things as are necessary or expedient for the purpose of the exercise of its functions.

(2) The Council, in the performance of its functions, shall—

(a) consult, as it considers appropriate, with providers of higher education and training or other persons or bodies,

(b) following consultation with the Authority, inform itself of practices outside the State in respect of matters relevant to its functions,

(c) following consultation with the Authority, inform itself of the education, training, skills and qualifications requirements of industry, including agriculture, business, tourism, trade, the professions and the public service, including the level of knowledge, skill or competence to be acquired by learners and promote practices in higher education and training which meet those requirements, and

(d) ensure that procedures for access, transfer and progression determined by the Authority under section 8 (2)(d) are implemented by—

(i) providers of programmes of education and training whose programmes are validated under section 25 , and

(ii) recognised institutions to which authority to make awards has been delegated under section 29 .

(3) The Council may request—

(a) a provider of programmes of education and training whose programmes are validated under section 25 , or

(b) a recognised institution to which authority to make awards has been delegated under section 29 ,

to assist the Council in forming an opinion as to whether a person has achieved the standard determined by the Council under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) for the purpose of making or recognising a higher education and training award under paragraph (c) of that subsection.