An insider's guide to education: Has a key education sector fallen out with Mary Hanafin?

That appears to be the case after last week's appointment of Michael Kelly as the full-time chairman of the Higher Education Authority (HEA). Ths has infuriated the third-level sector.

A quick recap: Hanafin had signalled that the full-time post would be abolished with the retirement of Don Thornhill last month.

But when Kelly vacated the secretary-general post in the Department of Health after the Travers report, he was given the full-time post in the HEA.

No one in the education sector doubts Kelly's outstanding ability. But the background to this appointment has seen Hanafin losing friends in third-level. They feel that a key post could be filled in this way - at a critical moment for the sector.

There is also anger that the Government, if it wanted to appoint a full-time chairman, did not advertise the post internationally, as recommended by the OECD report.

To compound the picture, university chiefs also appear underwhelmed by the consultation process initiated by the Minister on the OECD report. The kindest comment about the recent summit on third-level? "Nothing more than a talking shop which will delay decision making," according to one key figure.

Hanafin will probably take the view that this is just the usual whining from the usual suspects at third-level. But that might be dangerous. Noel Dempsey learned not to pick a fight with university chiefs. They are a very influential group with real influence in political circles.

Any form of disciplinary action appears very unlikely. But what will happen when the next round of parent-teacher meetings come around?

But Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell and MEP Eoin Ryan have joined the battle to save the school and parents may even seek to purchase it.

The private school, where bestselling author Maeve Binchy once taught Latin, provides very small classes and a family-like environment. It is due to close in June.