Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2017
151. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills what savings have been made through the merger of Tipperary north and south vocational education committees, VECs, into Tipperary Education and Training Board, ETB, in each of the years 2013 to 2016, respectively. [41350/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn June 2011, the Government decided to reduce the overall number of vocational education committees, VECs, from 33 to 16. The VECs were dissolved on 1 July 2013 and were replaced with 16 Education and Training Boards, ETBs.
The change was intended to strengthen locally managed education and enhance the scale of local education and training. It represented a major component of the public service transformation agenda. The new configuration also facilitated new provisions including the establishment of SOLAS, the dissolution of FÁS and paved the way for the transfer of training functions and training centres to the newly formed Education and Training Boards. The change better positioned the sector for future development and facilitated the required reductions, under the public service Employment Control Framework, of administrative staff employed in the sector, while protecting the services provided.
Details of specific savings from each ETB are not readily available. However, economies arising from the restructuring include those achieved as a result of reductions in administrative staffing costs linked to streamlining of functions within ETBs and the operating of the moratorium on recruitment and redeployment of surplus staff, including an ultimate reduction in the number of Chief Executive posts from 33 to 16. In some instances savings have also arisen from consolidating administrative functions in fewer locations.
Plans are also advanced for the establishment of shared services facilities in the areas of finance and payroll which should result in improved efficiency and consistency in financial and payroll management, and the feeing up of resources for other priorities.
