20. (1) An tÚdarás shall prepare and adopt a corporate plan (in this section referred to as the “corporate plan”) to be submitted to the Minister for approval, with or without amendment, for each ensuing 3-year period.

(2) A corporate plan shall—

(a) include the objectives, outputs and related strategies for higher education of An tÚdarás,

(b) include a review and evaluation of the work of An tÚdarás in the performance of its functions in the previous 3 years,

(c) be prepared in a form and manner in accordance with any directions given from time to time by the Minister,

(d) be prepared and submitted to the Minister—

(i) in respect of the first corporate plan, not later than 6 months after the commencement of section 7, and

(ii) in respect of each subsequent corporate plan, not later than 3 months after the expiration of the previous corporate plan,

(e) be in accordance with the strategy for tertiary education under section 33 and the performance framework under section 35, and

(f) accord with the guidelines, policies and objectives of the Minister and the Government as they relate to the functions of An tÚdarás.

(3) When preparing the corporate plan, An tÚdarás—

(a) shall consult with the Minister F4[and Taighde Éireann], and

(b) may consult with such other persons or bodies as it considers appropriate.

(4) Within 30 days of receiving a proposed corporate plan, the Minister shall—

(a) approve the proposed plan,

(b) give directions regarding amendments to the proposed plan, or

(c) refuse to approve the proposed plan if it is not amended in accordance with any directions that may have been given by the Minister to An tÚdarás.

(5) An approved corporate plan may be amended by—

(a) the Minister at any time, or

(b) An tÚdarás, where—

(i) An tÚdarás submits a proposed amendment to the Minister for approval, and

(ii) the amendment is approved by the Minister.

(6) Nothing in a corporate plan shall limit An tÚdarás in the performance of its functions.

(7) As soon as practicable after approving a corporate plan, the Minister shall cause a copy of the corporate plan to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(8) An tÚdarás shall ensure that, as soon as practicable after copies of an approved corporate plan are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, the plan is published in such manner as the Minister may specify.