S.I. No. 218/2026 - Education Sector Superannuation Scheme (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2026

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 6th February, 2026.

The Government, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by section 6 (1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939 (No. 36 of 1939), hereby order as follows:

1. (1) This Order may be cited as the Education Sector Superannuation Scheme (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2026.

(2) This Order shall come into operation on 1 March 2026.

2. (1) The administration and business in connection with the exercise, performance or execution of any functions transferred by Article 3 are transferred to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

(2) References to the Department of Education and Youth contained in any Act or any instrument made under such Act and relating to any administration and business transferred by paragraph (1) shall, on and after the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

3. (1) The functions vested in the Minister for Education and Youth by or under the Local Government (Superannuation) Act 1980 (No. 8 of 1980) (as adapted by the Vocational Education Superannuation Schemes (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1998 (S.I. No. 362 of 1998) and the Education Sector Superannuation Scheme (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2001 (S.I. No. 14 of 2001)) in so far as the exercise of those functions relates to any person who is or was employed by –

(a) the Atlantic Technological University,

(b) the Munster Technological University,

(c) the South East Technological University,

(d) the Technological University Dublin,

(e) the Technological University of the Shannon,

(f) the Dundalk Institute of Technology, or

(g) the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology,

are transferred to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

(2) References to the Minister for Education and Youth contained in any Act or instrument made under such Act and relating to any functions transferred by this Article shall, on and after the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

4. Where, immediately before the commencement of this Order, any legal proceedings are pending to which the Minister for Education and Youth is a party and the proceedings have reference to functions transferred by this Order to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the name of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science shall, in so far as the proceedings relate to any function transferred by this Order, be substituted in the proceedings for that of the Minister for Education and Youth or added in the proceedings, as may be appropriate, and the proceedings shall not abate by reason of such substitution.

5. Anything commenced before the commencement of this Order by or under the authority of the Minister for Education and Youth may, in so far as it relates to functions transferred by this Order to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, be carried on or completed on or after such commencement by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

6. Every document (including any certificate or licence) granted or made in the exercise of a function transferred by this Order, if and in so far as it was operative immediately before the commencement of this Order, has effect on and after such commencement as if it had been granted or made by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

7. References to the Minister for Education and Youth contained in the constitution of any company and relating to any function transferred by this Order shall, on and after the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

8. (1) All property, rights and liabilities held, enjoyed or incurred before the commencement of this Order by the Minister for Education and Youth in connection with the functions transferred by this Order are transferred to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and, accordingly, without any further conveyance, transfer or assignment, on such commencement –

(a) that property, both real and personal, vests in the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science,

(b) those rights shall be enjoyed by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and

(c) those liabilities are liabilities of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

(2) All moneys, stocks, shares and securities transferred to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science by this Article which, on the commencement of this Order, are standing in the name of the Minister for Education and Youth shall, on the request of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, be transferred into the name of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Government,

4 Februay, 2026.

MICHEÁL MARTIN,

Taoiseach.