asked the Minister for Education the plans she has regarding the future position of regional technical college boards of management as subcommittees of VECs.
Questions—Ceisteanna. Oral Answers. - Regional Technical Colleges.
5.
I would like to apologise for the absence of the Minister for Education, who is meeting the Commissioner for Education, Social Affairs and Employment to discuss proposals related to the social fund. She asked me to apologise to the House for her absence and to say she will be back tomorrow.
The position of boards of management of regional technical colleges as subcommittees of the vocational education committees will be reviewed in the context of the proposed amendment of the Vocational Education Act, 1930. I may not anticipate the outcome of that review which will be undertaken in consultation with all the interests involved.
I am delighted to see the Minister of State here today. It makes a change. In his reply he said this matter was to be discussed further in the context of the amendment of the 1930 Vocational Education Act. When is such a review intended? When will the announcement of such a review, and the implementation of any amendments, be made? Such a move was forecast in the action plan at paragraph 2.19 but, as in many other proposals in the action plan, there is no time scale mentioned. When will this announcement be made?
The question of greater devolution of authority and responsibility directly to the RTCs was raised in the discussions with interested groups during the preparation of the Programme for Action in Education, 1984-87. As was indicated in the programme for action, it is proposed to amend the Vocational Act, 1930, to provide for an enlargement of the vocational education committees and teachers' representation. In the context of the review which is taking place to provide for these amendments, the question of the position of boards of management of RTCs and subcommittees of vocational educational committees will be examined. I understand the examination will take place shortly but I could not give a specific time. I hope this will be announced shortly.
I am glad to hear the specific information given by the Minister in the last part of his answer, and I look forward to the early announcement of such a proposal.