asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the serious crisis which exists in the City of Dublin VEC as a result of the loss of 54 posts in the administrative, technical and maintenance staff, caused by her embargo on recruitment, and the consequent deterioration in the educational facilities provided for an increasing number of students; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - City of Dublin VEC.
59.
I am aware that a report on the matter in question has been made to the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee. The position is that the operation of the Government embargoes on the numbers serving in the public sector apply to the non-teaching staff of VECs. Two of the posts in question under the City of Dublin VEC have been exempted from the embargoes on the basis of their teaching content. The other posts are at the second and third level sectors of the committee's scheme for which sectors there is an authorised non-teaching staff complement of 729.
I do not accept the contention made by the Deputy in the last part of the question that there is consequently a deterioration in the education provision for an increasing number of students. It has to be pointed out that while the number of third level students in the committee's scheme is rising, the second level pupil enrolments have decreased in recent years.