I wish to share my time with my colleague, Deputy Hilliard, and Independent Members. I congratulate my colleagues Deputies Martin, Coughlan and Flood on tabling this important motion.
In Kerry we have two successful vocational education committees, County Kerry Vocational Education Committee and Tralee vocational education committee. My contribution will be parochial and I will deal first with the response of County Kerry Vocational Education Committee to the Government's White Paper on Education.
In the course of an extensive debate on the White Paper on the future of Irish education the committee evaluated the Government's proposal in the context of its area of responsibility and agreed that the keynote of its response was the rejection of regional education boards as suitable vehicles for educational reform. The committee considered the proposed boards to be incapable of discharging the functions assigned to them and of meeting the Government's expressed commitment to the democratic management of education at local level. Their establishment would effectively eradicate the capacity of vocational education committees to continue with the important work they were doing without any guarantee of an adequate replacement.
In the course of the discussion members expressed their concern that an opportunity to creat democratic, effective and accountable local education bodies of an integrated nature was being missed while vocational education committees were losing their capacity to function.
The establishment of a regional board in Cork to cater for the Kerry area was seen as a continuation of regional policies which had worked to the detriment of County Kerry and other areas and was contrary to the majority view of the county that County Kerry needed its own institutions and its own direct avenues to national sources of current and capital funding. The county area was adverted to as the maximum desirable area for any local education board and the continuation or creation of other entities of a lesser area would be a matter for special consideration.
County Kerry vocational education committee members were further concerned at the uncertainty created over the long delay in publishing the Green Paper on Education and the absence of a definite timetable for action on the White Paper proposals. A democratic local body was suggested to manage education and the experience in County Kerry with the vocational education committee was such that members were confident that it was the proper area for future organisation. It was felt a county based local education management body with a range of functions and powers, outlined for regional authorities in the White Paper, would form a natural progression in the integration of the work of vocational education committees with that currently organised by other authorities.
The Kerry committee, which has experience of providing education for adults, young travellers, those with literacy problems and in meeting community education needs, was likely to be devalued in the context of a regional organisation and the role of the committee was destined to be reduced to that of a powerless sub-committee. There was a strong commitment to a county based educational authority which would build on the foundation laid by the vocational education committees and the powers and remit of such a body would be the primary concern rather than any consideration related to title.
The view that the IVEA should have defended the status quo for the sake of its schools and to show its absolute opposition to local education boards was strongly expressed. The committees' schools had and continued to deliver important education and social services in a climate where the needs of the underprivileged had been especially acknowledged, but the future of the schools was uncertain. It was felt that amalgamations would be the order of the day and committees would no longer be in a position to support their schools effectively. It was also felt that the structural reform of Irish education should not be perceived or dealt with as a political issue.
Regarding Tralee vocational education committee, since the publication of the 1992 Green Paper, Education for a Changing World, that body has reviewed its policy on education structures on a number of occasions. This process has been undertaken in conjunction with its representative organisation, the IVEA, and with its neighbouring vocational education committees in Cork county and city and in County Kerry.
Since 1902 the urban authority in Tralee has had a representative body reviewing planning and resources in education development in the municipal area. The existence of such an authority has been a major boost to the town and has been directly responsible for the development of foreign institutions and services there.