Section 45 Committees

Tipperary ETB is required, in accordance with Section 45 of the Education and Training Boards Act 2013, to establish a Finance Committee to examine and report to that Board on financial matters relating to Tipperary ETB, and an Audit Committee to assist the Board in discharging its internal audit functions.

While the Tipperary ETB Board has reserved functions in relation to financial matters, including the keeping of accounts, the adoption of an annual service plan and the power to borrow money, the Finance Committee has a particular role in supporting the Board in this work by examining and reporting to the Board on financial matters relating to Tipperary ETB.

The Code of Practice for the Governance of Education and Training Boards 2024 (Circular Letter 0083/2024) provides that the Finance Committee should have three and not more than seven members. The Code also provides that the Chairperson of the Finance Committee should not be the Chairperson of the Board and that the Chief Executive or another person with an executive function shall not be a member of the Finance Committee. A minimum of three members of the Finance Committee, will be present for the meeting to be deemed quorate.

The Charter and Terms of Reference of the Finance Committee were adopted by the Tipperary Education and Training Board at its meeting on 10 December 2024.

While the Tipperary ETB Board has a duty to act in the interests of the ETB, the Audit and Risk Committee has a particular role, acting independently of the management of Tipperary ETB, to ensure that the interests of Government and other stakeholders are fully protected in relation to business and financial reporting and internal control.

As a Committee of the Board, this Committee will support the Board in its responsibilities for internal control comprising corporate governance, risk management, internal audit and financial/non-financial controls and by reviewing the comprehensiveness of assurances in meeting the Board’s assurance needs and reviewing the reliability and integrity of these assurances.

The Audit and Risk Committee should have 6 to 8 members. The Chairperson of the Audit and Risk Committee will not be a member of the Board. A minimum of three members of the Audit and Risk Committee, at least one of whom is not a member of the Board, will be present for the meeting to be deemed quorate.

The Terms of Reference for the Audit and Risk Committee was adopted by the Tipperary Education and Training Board at its meeting on 10 December 2024.