128. The Act of 1971 is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 20B (inserted by section 127):

“20C. (1) (a) The Director shall, as soon as practicable after the coming into operation of section 128 of the Higher Education Authority Act 2022, prepare a plan (in this section called a ‘strategic development plan’) for the period specified in the plan.

(b) The period specified in the strategic development plan shall be such period as An Bord considers appropriate and directs the Director to specify in the plan, being a period of not less than 3 years and not more than 5 years from the date that the Director prepares the plan under paragraph (a).

(c) The Director shall prepare each subsequent strategic development plan not earlier than 6 months, and not later than 3 months, before the expiration of the period specified in the plan.

(2) The Director shall for the purposes of preparing a strategic development plan under this section consult with—

(a) the Minister,

(b) such other Ministers of the Government as An Bord considers appropriate,

(c) An tÚdarás,

(d) the students or the student union of the College,

(e) the members of the staff of the College,

(f) the academic council, and

(g) such other bodies or persons as An Bord considers appropriate.

(3) A strategic development plan shall specify—

(a) the objectives of the College for the period specified in the plan and the strategies for achieving those objectives,

(b) the purposes for which the College proposes to use its resources,

(c) how the College shall comply with any requirements imposed on it under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012, and

(d) the plans of the College to develop and promote strong social and cultural links, and links supporting creativity, between the College and the local, regional and national community.

(4) The Director, in preparing a strategic development plan under subsection (1)(c), shall have regard to each of the following provided or issued to the College by a relevant designated awarding body within the meaning of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 during the period of the plan being replaced:

(a) a report of a review under section 37 of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012;

(b) a direction under section 38 of that Act.

(5) The Director shall submit the draft strategic development plan to An Bord for approval once it has been prepared.

(6) An Bord, having regard to the resources available to it, may either approve the strategic development plan without modification or, after consultation with the Director, approve the plan with such modifications as it thinks fit.

(7) As soon as practicable after it approves the strategic development plan under subsection (6), An Bord shall provide a copy of the plan to the Minister and An tÚdarás and the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland and publish it in such manner as An Bord considers appropriate.”.