The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland was established in February 2001. The Authority itself has three principal objects which are set out in the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999. The first object of the Authority is to establish and maintain a framework of qualifications for the development, recognition and award of qualifications in the State, based on standards of knowledge, skill or competence to be acquired by learners. A further key function of the Authority is to determine whether any particular programme of education and training is higher education and training or further education and training or whether the standard of knowledge, skill or competence to be acquired by learners for the purposes of awards is at the level of a further education and training award or a higher education and training award.

HETAC (the Higher Education and Training Awards Council) was established by the Government on 11 June 2001, under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999. HETAC is the qualifications awarding body for third-level educational and training institutions outside the university sector.

FETAC (the Further Education and Training Awards Council) was set up on a statutory basis on 11 June 2001 by the Minister for Education and Science, under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999. They have responsibility for and promoting quality awards in further education and training; validating the quality of programmes; setting national standards; and establishing working partnerships.

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is the planning and development body for higher education in Ireland. It was set up on an ad hoc basis in 1968, and was given statutory powers in the Higher Education Authority Act 1971.

The Department of Education and Science is responsible for the administration of public education, primary, post primary and special education. State subsidies for universities and third level colleges are channelled through the Department.

AHEAD (Association for Higher Education Access and Disability) is an independent voluntary organisation working to promote improved access for persons with disabilities to Third Level Education in Ireland, North and South. Further information about AHEAD is available below.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) collects, compiles, analyses and disseminates statistical information relating to the economic and social life of Ireland.
It is also responsible for co-ordinating official statistics of other public authorities and for developing the statistical potential of administrative records.

The Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) represents and provides economic, commercial, employee relations and social affairs services to some 7,000 companies and organisations from all sectors of economic and commercial activity. IBEC works to shape policies and influence decision-making in a way that develops and protects members' interests and contributes to the development and maintenance of an economy that promotes enterprise and productive employment.

Forfás is the National Policy and Advisory Board for Enterprise, Trade, Science, Technology & Innovation in Ireland. It is the body in which the State's legal powers for industrial promotion and technology development have been vested. It is also the body through which powers are delegated to Enterprise Ireland for the promotion of indigenous industry and to IDA Ireland for the promotion of inward investment.

Enterprise Ireland is charged with assisting the development of Irish enterprise. It works in partnership with its client companies to develop a sustainable competitive advantage, leading to a significant increase in sales, exports and employment.

The purpose of the Central Applications Office (CAO) is to process centrally applications for admission to the first year of undergraduate courses in institutions within the Republic of Ireland and to deal with them in an efficient and fair manner. The participating institutions retain the function of making decisions on admissions. CAO is a not-for-profit company registered in Ireland.

ICTU is the single umbrella organisation for trade unions in Ireland representing a wide range of interests of almost 734,842 working people, both in the Republic and in Northern Ireland.

Europa is the portal site of the European Union (http://europa.eu.int/). It provides up-to-date coverage of European Union affairs and essential information on European integration. Users can also consult all legislation currently in force or under discussion, access the websites of each of the EU institutions and find out about the policies administered by the European Union under the powers devolved to it by the Treaties.

TecNet The Technology Network was established in 1999 by the Council of Directors and is jointly funded by Enterprise Ireland. TecNet's primary objective is to provide industry with comprehensive Research & Development, Consulting Services and Technology Transfers by utilising the skills and facilities available within the Institutes of Technology. The site contains details of research opportunities both within TecNet and the Institutes; details of TecNet's research networks and information about upcoming events.

The National Partnership Forum (NPF) for the Institutes of Technology is responsible for the development and implementation of an overall Partnership Strategy for the IT sector. It is the forum through which the Institutes, trade unions, and the Department of Education and Science are approaching modernisation and change in the Institutes of Technology.