Minister O’Donovan announces appointments to the Board of SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan TD has today announced the appointment of new members to the board of SOLAS.

Dearbháil Lawless, Michael Murphy, Jim Meade, Patrick Atkinson, and Susan Colley Doyle have been appointed for five-year terms, while Orla Coughlan has been reappointed for a second term of three years.

Minister O’Donovan met with the SOLAS Board today to discuss to priorities for the next Further Education and Training Strategy.

Minister O’Donovan said:

Dearbháil Lawless is the Chief Executive of AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation since 2022. She previously served as AONTAS’ Head of Advocacy. She is currently a Vice-President of the European Association for the Education of Adults.

Michael Murphy is the Principal of Mayo College of Further Education and Training since 2021. He currently serves as the Chairperson of Further Education and Training Colleges Ireland (FETCI), the FET subcommittee of NAPD (National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals) and as President of the Principals and Deputies Association.

Jim Meade is the Chief Executive Officer of Iarnród Éireann since 2018. He previously served as Director, Railway Undertaking, Iarnród Éireann from 2012 to 2018. He currently serves as Deputy Chair of CIRO (Chartered Institute of Railway Operators) and is the Irish ambassador to, and a Board member of UITP which is the International Association of Public Transport.

Susan Colley Doyle is the Head of Finance, HR and Revenue for the Johnstown Collection and works as a part-time lecturer in different areas such as financial accounting and employee relations for several educational institutions.

Patrick Aktinson is the Chief Executive Officer of Chadwicks Group with over 30 years’ experience working for multi-national corporations in the construction.

Mr Atkinson and Ms Colley Doyle are appointed as nominees of the Minister for Social Protection in line with section 10 (3) (b) of the Further Education and Training Act, 2013.

The appointments have been drawn from a panel established following a recruitment process which was managed by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) in 2024 to fill vacancies on the SOLAS Board.

At the same time, the Minister announced the reappointment of Orla Coughlan for a second term of three years. Orla is a Management Consultant and Non-Executive Director and was first appointed to the SOLAS Board following a PAS competition in March 2019.

An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna (SOLAS), the Further Education and Training Authority, was established in October 2013 under the Further Education and Training Act, 2013. Under the aegis of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, SOLAS is responsible for the strategic co-ordination and funding of the Further Education and Training (FET) Sector.

The legislation sets out the overall structure of SOLAS and provides for its functions including:

• the development and implementation of a national strategy for the delivery of further education and training
• consultation with key stakeholders in relation to the provision of further education and training
• coordination with the National Public Employment Service, Intreo, in the delivery of further education and training programmes to those seeking employment
• advancing monies to the Education and Training Boards and other training bodies
• assessing whether bodies engaged in the provision of further education and training programmes perform their functions in an economic, efficient, and effective manner.
• developing and facilitating the development of new and existing further education and training programmes; conducting research relating to the functions of SOLAS

Section 10 of the Further Education and Training Act, 2013 provides that the Board of SOLAS shall consist of 13 members appointed by the Minister, of whom one shall be the Chairperson, one shall be the Chief Executive Officer, and one shall represent the interests of learners in the further education and training sector. Of the remaining 10 members, 2 shall be appointed following their nomination by the Minister for Social Protection, while 8 shall be appointed by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science following consultation with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister for Social Protection.

The Board meets regularly, and members may be required to serve on committees established by the Board.

The Act provides that members of the Board shall have experience and expertise in matters connected with the functions of SOLAS or matters connected with finance, trade, commerce, corporate governance, or public administration.

The Board is collectively responsible for promoting the success of SOLAS by leading and directing the Body’s activities, providing strategic guidance to the organisation, and monitoring the activities and effectiveness of its management.

The gender composition of the SOLAS Board meets the Government target of a minimum of 40% representation of each gender – 7 males and 6 females.