Revenue and UL Sign Degree Programme in Applied Taxation
Mr Frank Daly, Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, and Mr John O’ Connor, President of the University of Limerick, today (20/09/2006) signed a Service Level Agreement between the two organisations for the delivery of the 4th and Final Year of a BA (Hons.) programme in Applied Taxation.
The University of Limerick has already accredited Revenue’s current in-house technical tax training programme, which is delivered by Revenue's Training Branch, with a diploma in Applied Taxation. Over 100 Revenue Students graduated last December with the Diploma in Applied Taxation and a similar number are expected to graduate later this year. A further year of study, which will lead to a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Taxation has now been developed by UL and Revenue. These service level agreements provide third level accreditation of the programmes in education training and research in the taxation area. These represent a first in the Irish civil service.
Over the nine-year period of the agreement it is expected that close to 1200 Revenue employees will graduate from the University of Limerick with significant and relevant third level qualifications in taxation.
Speaking at the ceremony Frank Daly, Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners said the agreement marks a unique and innovative partnership:
"UL’s commitment to the relevance of the programme to Revenue, and Revenue’s commitment to the quality that UL’s involvement brings to all our accredited training, are consolidated through the spirit of partnership which has evolved over the last two years and through the joint management structures in place."
Mr Daly added: "This new Honours level final year degree programme will add to Revenue’s advanced technical capacity to:
- Compete with the ever-increasing complexity of national and international taxation.
- Provide first class service to our clients, particularly those involved in larger and more complex areas.
- Harness professional expertise to critically examine, challenge and address developments within business which may legally or otherwise strive to circumvent or undermine the objectives of tax legislation.
- Support the Minister and Department of Finance in ensuring our tax legislation is effective and robust."
Mr John O’Connor, President of UL speaking at the launch said today, "This launch today represents the progression of a successful partnership between the two organisations. This programme will enhance expertise and knowledge base both within Revenue and the University of Limerick. This partnership is indicative of the increasing importance of meeting the needs of business by our academic institutions. At the University of Limerick we pride ourselves in this type of pioneering work. The partnership also generates close to €5 million in income for UL and this will allow us to further grow and develop our taxation faculty".
Margery Stapleton, Director of the Centre for Taxation Studies at UL explained at the launch that, "the fourth year of the Honours Taxation Degree for revenue participants is intensive and varied and designed to meet their educational requirements in an increasing complex taxation environment. Together with modules on advanced taxation, international taxation and revenue law, there are elective modules on property and financial services. We also plan to invite a range of key experts from within Revenue and the professional taxation firms as well as international guest speakers to broaden the range and scope of our programme. "
[Ends 20/09/2006]