An insider's guide to education

• Work on that major OECD report on the third-level sector is continuing in Paris. The inquiry team is reading its way into the brief, before visiting Irish universities and institutes of technology early in the new year.

The OECD report, due in the summer, will shape policy for a decade to come. Among other issues, it will decide on the role of the Department of Education and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) vis a vis the third-level sector.

Not surprisingly, the HEA is taking a very keen interest in the proceedings of the review group. The authority knows that the OECD study will have a major impact on its future.

The OECD report will also consider how the functions of the seven universities and the 13 institutes might be streamlined to avoid duplication. It is expected to propose much closer links between the universities and the institutes.

• Good to see the former Attorney General, EU Commissioner and GATT chief, Peter Sutherland is looking after his alma mater.

The chairman of Goldman Sachs, has donated €650,000 for the establishment of the Peter Sutherland Chair in European Law at the Faculty of Law, UCD. The chair forms part of a wider effort to see the Belfield law faculty achieve the status of an international law school.

Sutherland has taken some good-natured ribbing for helping TCD in the past, but these days he is the hero of the hour out Belfield way.

• That Budget proposal whereby the Department of Education would decamp from Marlborough Street to Mullingar has gone down like the proverbial lead balloon with officials. The self-styled Independent Republic of Mullingar may be fine for Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary. But education mandarins, who like to take afternoon tea in the Gresham, are not enthused by the prospect. Expect a major battle.

And guess what? The board, which has taken over the role of school attendance officers, is chronically underfunded. It says it needs €13 million a year to provide a comprehensive service. This year, it will get less than €6 million.

• The focus in the Department of Education these days is on Ireland's forthcoming presidency of the EU. In his first time in office during a presidency, Noel Dempsey is determined to cut a dash.

The presidency can be a wonderful shop window for ambitious politicians. As president of the council of EU education ministers, Dempsey will have plenty of opportunities to shine.

The presidency takes place in the run-up to next summer's Cabinet reshuffle, something which will concentrate the minds of all ministers.

• Congratulations to Austin Corcoran, who was named as president-elect of the INTO this week. From Dunmore, Co Waterford, Austin was elected unopposed to the post. He will take up the position at the INTO conference in Tralee next Easter.