Department of Education and Science

Department of Education Northern Ireland

Department of Education and Skills UK

State Examinations Commission (SEC)

National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA)

Higher Education Authority (HEA)
The Higher Education Authority 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.

Higher Education & Training Awards Council (HETAC)
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.

Further Education & Training Awards Council (FETAC)
As the national awarding body for further education and training in Ireland, the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) gives people the opportunity to gain recognition for learning in education or training centres, in the work place and in the community.

National Qualification Authority of Ireland (NQAI)
The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland was established in February 2001. The Authority itself has three principal objects:

• the establishment and maintenance of a framework of qualifications for the development, recognition and award of qualifications based on standards of knowledge, skill or competence to be acquired by learners
• the establishment and promotion of the maintenance and improvement of the standards of awards of the further and higher education and training sector, other than in the existing universities
• the promotion and facilitation of access, transfer and progression throughout the span of education and training provision.

Foras na Gaeilge
Foras na Gaeilge is the new body responsible for the promotion of the Irish language throughout the whole island of Ireland.

Representative Bodies (Partners in Education)

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI)
The ASTI is the main second level teachers' union in the Republic of Ireland, representing teachers teaching in schools attended by 75% of second level students. They include voluntary secondary schools, community and comprehensive schools and colleges.

Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI)
Welcome to the TUI Website. The progressive, professional teachers' union, representing teachers and lecturers in Vocational Schools, Community Colleges, Community & Comprehensive Schools, Institutes of Technology, Further Education and other specialist areas.

National Parents Council - Post Primary
The National Parents Council – Post Primary (NPCpp) is a body representing most parents associations in post-primary schools in Ireland.

Irish Vocational Educational Association (IVEA)
The Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) represents the interests, at national level, of Ireland’s thirty-three Vocational Education Committees (VECs).

Joint Managerial Body (JMB)
The Joint Managerial Body (JMB) represents the Boards of Management of over 400 Voluntary Secondary Schools in the Republic of Ireland.The JMB is the umbrella body for the AMCSS (Association of Management of Catholic Secondary Schools) and the ISA (Irish School Heads' Association) which represents the Protestant Schools in the State.

Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS)
It negotiates and enters into agreements on behalf of the Boards of Management of Community and Comprehensive Schools nationwide.

National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD)
NAPD represents Principals and Deputy Principals at post-primary level. The Association aims to provide a united voice nationally for Principals and Deputy Principals on issues of common concern.