Vol. 469 No. 3
138 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Education her policy in relation to the proposed recommendation for amalgamation by the merging of the five town vocational education committees with the respective counties including the town of Drogheda, County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17363/96]
The White Paper on Education Charting our Education Future published in April 1995, sets out Government policy in relation to the Vocational Education Committee structure.
The White Paper states that legislation will be introduced to amend the Vocational Education Acts and will, inter alia, contain provision to allow for the retention of the vocational education committees within the new Education Board structure and the rationalisation of vocational education committee system.
The Deputy will be aware that the commission established to examine the existing vocational education committee structure and report and make recommendations on the rationalisation of vocational education committees consists of a streering group and a technical working group.
The technical working group published and submitted its report on the reform of the vocational education committee system to the steering group in June 1996. The steering group, which includes representatives of the partners in education, is now considering the report and will report to me shortly. Following my consideration of the report of the streering group I expect to be in a position to set out policy on the issues raised by the Deputy.
