26 Iúil 2011, 17:24
Proposals to rationalise the Vocational Educational Committees and agencies under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills will be examined at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education tomorrow, Wednesday 27th July.
26th July 2011
Officials from the Department of Education and Skills will appear before the Committee to discuss the proposals on the amalgamation of VECs and educational agencies.
Chairman of the Committee Deputy Damien English said: “The Government decided on 28th June to reduce the number of VECs from 33 to 16 and on the merger of particular VECs but the configuration will be different from that proposed by the previous government. Our meeting tomorrow will provide us with an opportunity to establish what progress has been made on the proposals, how the process of rationalisation will evolve, what kinds of cost savings are envisaged and how the new structure of VECs will impact on quality of educational services provided to students.
The Department of Education and Skills is also currently working with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to prepare legislation which will give effect to the previous Government’s decision to amalgamate the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI), the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) and the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC). Again, the meeting will enable Committee members to question Department Officials on the legislation, establish what stage it is at, ascertain when the newly amalgamated body will come into operation and discuss how this body will impact on the education system.”
This meeting will take place in Committee Room 3 at 9.30am on Wednesday, 27th July.
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For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education
Membership
Deputies
Damien English, TD (Chairman)
Ray Butler, TD
Áine Collins, TD
Joan Collins, TD
Michael Conaghan, TD
Barry Cowen, TD
Seán Crowe, TD
Tom Fleming, TD
Brendan Griffin, TD
John Halligan, TD
Seán Kyne, TD
Anthony Lawlor, TD
John Lyons, TD
Nicky McFadden, TD
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, TD
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, TD
Willie O’Dea, TD
Brendan Ryan, TD
Brendan Smith, TD
Peadar Tóibín, TD
Senators
Deirdre Clune,
John Kelly,
Michael Mullins,
Marie Louise O’Donnell,
Averil Power,
Feargal Quinn.