Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

To follow on from the Deputy's point, the Comptroller and Auditor General will recall that the amalgamations of vocational education committees, VECs, as they were at the time, into ETBs were set out as cost-saving measures. Is Mr. McCarthy aware of any analysis as to whether any costs were actually saved? The old VEC system had its faults but it was the only democratic means of education in terms of the oversight that was there.

As a former member of a VEC, I always found it beneficial in many respects and in the breadth of experience it brought. I am not convinced that the amalgamation process worked in ensuring accountability. I am aware that a lot of members of ETBs are overstretched because they are expected to be on several boards of management across different counties, and there are all sorts of silly rules and regulations that were brought in with the legislation. I know that is not necessarily a concern for this committee but whether a cost benefit accrued from the amalgamation is our concern. Will the Comptroller and Auditor General address that point first?