The Higher Education Authority (HEA), officially An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas, is the statutory body providing policy advice for higher education in Ireland.
The HEA has a statutory responsibility for the effective governance of higher education in Ireland.
[2] It 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".
[4] The authority is responsible for the funding of Irish universities, institutes of technology and other third level colleges.