The death has occurred of Mr John Gallagher, director general of the Institute of Public Administration (IPA). Mr Gallagher died suddenly at his home in Dublin, aged 57 years. A former assistant secretary in the Department of Finance, he was head of the IPA for 14 years.

In that time he developed it into the largest distance learning organisation in Ireland, with a throughput of 15,000 people taking training courses annually, 1,500 people doing under- and post-graduate courses, a staff of 115 and a turnover of £9 million (€11.4 million).

Moreover, he geared it to meet the needs of a rapidly changing public service - the bulk of its work is to provide training and third-level education for civil and public servants - and its influence has been enormous over the years. In recent times he had been planning the expansion of the education and management side of the institute - in particular the provision of master's degree courses. He extended a premises that consisted of a couple of houses on Lansdowne Road in Dublin into a modern academic facility and has left behind a financially secure organisation.

While he had considered moving to another location, he said recently that whatever way he looked at the figures, a move would cost at least £10 million.

At the time of his death he was actively looking for a donor who would contribute around £3 million for a new library for the IPA.

From Co Clare, he was educated at St Flannan's College in Ennis and studied public administration at University College, Dublin. A raconteur and story-teller, he was a noted after-dinner speaker.