Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 October 2011
48 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider Longford Vocational Education Committee as a sub-office, in view of it not having been designated the regional headquarters of the newly amalgamated Longford-Westmeath VEC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31729/11]
View answerIn arriving at the decision on the headquarter locations of the new Education and Training Boards, I considered a range of factors including the need to ensure that the location of a VEC headquarters will, to the greatest extent possible, facilitate staff redeployment under a redeployment scheme within the context of the Croke Park Agreement and the need to operate at lowest cost having regard to the accommodation available in existing locations. In determining Mullingar as a headquarter location, I was aware that both Co. Westmeath and Co. Longford VECs are very closely matched on the criteria mentioned above. However, I am satisfied that geographically, Mullingar is the most favourable location for the HQ. I expect that headquarters staff of Co. Longford VEC will move to the designated headquarters location at Mullingar as soon as feasible, although a sub-office will be maintained in Longford for the immediate term in order to facilitate an orderly merger.
