23 DFómh 2012, 17:01
The Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection will tomorrow meet with representatives from the Teachers’ Union of Ireland and the National Adult Literacy Agency to discuss the Education and Training Boards Bill 2012.
23 October 2012
The Bill provides for the establishment of 16 Education and Training Boards, replacing the current 33 Vocational Education Committees.
Committee Chair Joanna Tuffy TD says: “The Education and Training Boards Bill will replace the nine existing Vocational Education Acts with one piece of composite legislation. The Committee meeting tomorrow provides us with an opportunity to engage with the TUI, who represent the vast majority of staff employed by VECs. The union is concerned that the Bill impacts on the current statutory rights of teachers.
“Cognisant of the 200,000 adult learners currently in further education and training, NALA will argue that each of the new Boards include a dedicated adult learner seat. We look forward to hearing the perspective of Ireland’s leading authority on adult literacy and considering how their concerns can be addressed as the Bill progresses.”
Separately, the Committee will meet with John Monahan, Chairman Designate of the Grangegorman Development Agency, as part of an initiative for Committees to engage with those proposed to chair State boards. The Agency, established in 2006 to redevelop the former St. Brendan's Hospital grounds in Dublin 7, aims to create a vibrant new city quarter with a diverse mix of uses.
Committee Chair Joanna Tuffy TD says: “Under the Programme for Government, those who are being proposed for appointment as chairpersons of State boards are required to make themselves available to the appropriate Oireachtas Committee. The meeting tomorrow with Mr Monahan will allow the Committee discuss the approach he proposes to take as Chairman and his views about the priorities of the Grangegorman Development Agency.”
“The Committee does not have a blocking role in the appointment and following the discussion tomorrow, decisions will be taken by the Minister or the Government, as appropriate, to confirm Mr Monahan as Chairman.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 24 October in Committee Room 3, LH 2000 at 10 am. The Committee’s public proceedings can be viewed online via this link.
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +353 1 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies:
James Bannon, Fine Gael
Ray Butler, Fine Gael
Joan Collins, People Before Profit
Clare Daly, Independent
Brendan Griffin, Fine Gael
Simon Harris, Fine Gael
Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fáil
Nicky McFadden, Fine Gael
Jonathan O'Brien, Sinn Féin
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Labour Party (Vice Chair)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin
Willie O’Dea, Fianna Fáil
Brendan Ryan, Labour Party
Joanna Tuffy, Labour Party (Chair)
Senators:
Jim D’Arcy
Fidelma Healy Eames
Marie Moloney
Marie Louise O’Donnell
Averil Power
Diarmuid Wilson