34. (1) An tÚdarás shall plan for the provision of higher education in the State by maintaining an on-going review of the demand for it.

(2) An tÚdarás may, for the purposes of subsection (1), consult with—

(a) the Minister, the Minister for Education and such other Ministers of the Government as An tÚdarás considers appropriate,

(b) An tSeirbhís,

(c) the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland,

(d) the designated institutions of higher education or their representative bodies,

(e) students’ unions,

(f) trades unions or staff associations of members of staff of designated institutions of higher education which are recognised by those institutions, and

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

(3) An tÚdarás shall, for the purposes of the review required under subsection (1)—

(a) assess and measure the current number and distribution of students in each of the designated institutions of higher education,

(b) assess and measure the current number of students in each discipline,

(c) assess and measure the participation by students in priority groups in higher education, and

(d) assess the demand for higher education at a regional level and at national level and in each discipline having regard to—

(i) the current numbers of students, including the number of students participating at the senior level in post-primary education,

(ii) demographic projections,

(iii) the participation and demand for further education and training,

(iv) issues regarding equality, diversity and the inclusion of students in priority groups, and persons in those groups seeking to become students, in higher education,

(v) the education and skills requirements in the State,

(vi) environmental development and sustainability,

(vii) graduate outcomes,

(viii) emerging needs,

(ix) social, economic and cultural requirements, including the requirements in higher education for the promotion and use of the Irish language of students who are enrolled in primary schools and post-primary schools which provide education through the medium of the Irish language, with particular regard to such schools in or serving Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks, and

(x) such other matters as it considers appropriate.

(4) An tÚdarás shall make recommendations to the Minister as to the overall requirement for student places to be provided within the higher education system, having regard to—

(a) the review under subsection (1),

(b) the strategy for tertiary education under section 33,

(c) any policy directions given by the Minister,

(d) the current numbers of students,

(e) demographic projections,

(f) any national policies that are relevant,

(g) issues regarding the equality, diversity and the inclusion of students in priority groups, and persons in those groups seeking to become students, in higher education,

(h) the education and skills requirements in the State,

(i) the participation in and demand for further education and training,

(j) environmental development and sustainability,

(k) graduate outcomes,

(l) emerging needs,

(m) social, economic and cultural requirements, including the requirements in higher education for the promotion and use of the Irish language of students who are enrolled in primary schools and post-primary schools which provide education through the medium of the Irish language, with particular regard to such schools in or serving Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks, and

(n) any other matters that it considers appropriate.