asked the Minister for Education if he will state the precise function of the Higher Education Authority.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Higher Education Authority.
58.
As already indicated in a statement published on 16th August, 1968, the Government have decided to set up the Higher Education Authority on a statutory basis, with, as its terms of reference, to:
(a) examine the existing provision for higher education with a view to making recommendations to the Minister for Education on the necessity for the existing provision and on the elimination of unnecessary duplications;
(b) examine budgets prepared by higher education institutions and plans for development and advise the Minister thereon;
(c) advise the Minister as to the allocation between the institutions concerned of the funds made available by the Government for higher education purposes;
(d) arrange for the placement of students;
(e) maintain a continual review of the country's needs in higher education;
(f) advise on higher education matters referred to it by the Minister or other appropriate bodies;
(g) conduct inquiries and initiate and publish studies on problems of higher education;
(h) arrange for as much uniformity as possible in the system of grading of university staff in the country, the system of appointment to academic university posts, the procedure for the fixing of conditions of service and tenure of such posts and of superannuation benefits for academic and administrative staff, the implementation of a system of mobility of staff members between universities and between universities and other institutions of higher education and research, and the correlation of salary scales for university staffs;
(i) make regulations governing the form in which each institution will present its annual budgets and accounts to the Authority;
(j) endeavour generally to further the development of higher education and to promote a knowledge of its value to the country.
The Higher Education Authority has already been established on an ad hoc basis with, as its interim assignment, the advising of the Minister for Education on the nature and form of the legislation which will be required in order to implement the Government's decisions on higher education, as previously announced.