Higher Education Authority
The Higher Education Authority is the statutory policy-advisory body for higher education in Ireland. The HEA provides policy-advice to the Irish Government across various aspects of the mission of higher education.
According to their website, the aim of the HEA is "to create a coherent system of diverse institutions with distinct missions, which is responsive to the social, cultural and economic development of Ireland and its people and supports the achievement of national objectives".
The authority has a statutory responsibility, at central government level, for the governance and regulation of higher education institutions and the higher education system. The authority is responsible for the funding of Irish universities, institutes of technology and other third level colleges.Organisation
The current Chief Executive is Alan Wall. The Chairperson of the Authority is Michael Horgan.