34.—(1) A governing authority shall, as soon as practicable after its appointment and at such other times as it thinks fit, require the chief officer to prepare a plan which shall set out the aims of the governing authority for the operation and development of the university and its strategy for achieving those aims, and for carrying out the functions of the university, during the period, being not less than three years, to which the plan relates.

F29[(1A) A governing authority shall, before approving a strategic development plan under this section, be satisfied that the chief officer has for the purposes of preparing the plan consulted with—

(a) the Minister,

(b) such other Ministers of the Government as the governing authority considers appropriate,

(c) An tÚdarás,

(d) the students or the Student Union of the university,

(e) the employees of the university,

(f) the academic council of the university,

(g) the education and training board in whose education and training board area the campus of the university is located or such other education and training board as the governing authority considers appropriate,

(h) a local authority (within the meaning of the Local Government Act 2001 ) in whose functional area the campus of the university is located, and

(i) such other body or person as the governing authority considers appropriate.]

(2) A governing authority may, having regard to the resources available to the university, either approve a strategic development plan prepared under subsection (1) without modification or, after consultation with the chief officer, approve the plan with such modifications as it thinks fit.

(3) As soon as practicable after it approves the strategic development plan under subsection (2), the governing authority shall provide a copy of the plan to An tÚdarás and to the Minister.

F30[(4) Where the governing authority of a university established under section 9(2) approves a strategic development plan under this section it shall—

(a) ensure that the plan provides the means by which that university shall comply with any requirements imposed on the university under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012, and

(b) provide a copy of that plan to the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland.]

F30[(5) Where the chief officer of a university established under section 9(2) prepares a report on the operations and the performance of that university under section 41, he or she shall have regard to the part or parts of the strategic development plan under this section relevant to any requirements imposed on that university under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012.]

F30[(6) An tÚdarás shall consult with the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland with regard to the means by which a university established under section 9(2) shall comply with any requirements imposed on the university under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 when reviewing a strategic development plan prepared by the university in accordance with this section.]