Universities Act 1997
Number 24 of 1997
UNIVERSITIES ACT 1997
REVISED
Updated to 21 February 2024
This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Universities Act 1997. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.
All Acts up to and including the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024 (5/2024), enacted 28 February 2024, and all statutory instruments up to and including the National University of Ireland, Galway (Change of Name of University) Order 2024 (S.I. No. 62 of 2024), made 23 February 2024, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.
Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to
revisedacts@lawreform.ie.
Number 24 of 1997
UNIVERSITIES ACT 1997
REVISED
Updated to 21 February 2024
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary and General
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Section |
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Establishment and Identity of Universities
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Incorporation of educational institutions with existing universities. |
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Amendment of Dublin City University Act, 1989, and University of Limerick Act, 1989. |
Universities Generally
Objects and Functions
Governance
Interim Arrangements
Transitional arrangements for membership and chairperson of governing authority
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Transitional arrangements for membership and chairperson of governing authority. |
Staff of University
Academic Council
Charters and Statutes
Planning and Evaluation
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Quality assurance. (Repealed) |
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Finance, Property and Reporting
The National University of Ireland, Maynooth
National University of Ireland
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Relationship of constituent universities to National University of Ireland. |
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Degrees and qualifications of Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. |
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An tÚdarás
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Guidelines. (Repealed) |
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Miscellaneous
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Authorisation to education provider to describe itself as a university. |
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Conditions to be complied with for making of university authorisation order. |
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Enactments Repealed
Table
Governing Authority
Chief Officer
Superannuation
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Acts Referred to |
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Arbitration Acts, 1954 and 1980 |
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1993, No. 8 |
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1989, No. 15 |
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1992, No. 15 |
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1971, No. 22 |
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Irish Universities Act, 1908 |
8 Edw.7. c. 38 |
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1980, No. 30 |
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National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick, Act, 1980 |
1980, No. 25 |
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1992, No. 16 |
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1989, No. 14 |
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Number 24 of 1997
UNIVERSITIES ACT 1997
REVISED
Updated to 21 February 2024
AN ACT TO CONSTITUTE OR ESTABLISH CERTAIN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AS UNIVERSITIES UNDER THIS ACT, TO ALLOW FOR THE INCORPORATION OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AS PARTS OF UNIVERSITIES OR AS UNIVERSITIES IN THEIR OWN RIGHT, TO PROVIDE FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF UNIVERSITIES WHICH ARE IN RECEIPT OF MONEYS PROVIDED BY AN tÚDARÁS BY THE CONSTITUTING OF GOVERNING AUTHORITIES AND ACADEMIC COUNCILS AND PROVIDING FOR THEIR POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, TO MAKE CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO STAFF, PLANNING AND FINANCIAL SCRUTINY AND REPORTING OF UNIVERSITIES, TO AMEND OR PROVIDE FOR THE CONTINUATION AND AMENDING OF CERTAIN UNIVERSITY CHARTERS AND THE CONTINUATION OF STATUTES, TO REPEAL THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, LIMERICK, ACT, 1980, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, DUBLIN, ACT, 1980, AND CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF OTHER ACTS, TO AMEND CERTAIN OTHER ACTS, AND FOR CONNECTED PURPOSES. [14th May, 1997]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text):
C1
Functions transferred and references construed (21.10.2020) by Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 451 of 2020), arts. 2, 3(1)(a), (2) and sch., in effect as per art. 1(2), subject to transitional provisions in arts. 4-8.
2. (1) The administration and business in connection with the exercise, performance or execution of any functions transferred by this Order are transferred to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
(2) References to the Department of Education and Skills contained in any Act or any instrument made under such Act and relating to any administration and business transferred by paragraph (1) shall, from the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
3. (1) The functions vested in the Minister for Education and Skills -
(a) by or under the Acts specified in Part 1 of the Schedule, and
...
are transferred to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
(2) References to the Minister for Education and Skills contained in any Act or instrument made under such Act and relating to any functions transferred by paragraph (1) shall, from the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
...
SCHEDULE
Article 3
Part 1
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Universities Acts 1997 to 2015
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