Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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In 2010 the previous Government made the decision to reduce the overall number of VECs in the country. The decision was made on the basis of recommendations from the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes, also known as an bord snip nua. However, while the report recommended reducing the number of VECs from 33 to 22, the then Government decided to reduce the number from 33 to 16. This involves the merger of certain counties, including Westmeath and Laois-Offaly and Leitrim and Roscommon with Longford. The proposed plan did not take into account a number of significant factors that highlight the negative impact such a merger would have on the day-to-day operation and longer term goals of the VECs. In November, as a Senator, I raised the matter with the former Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills. I stressed the need to ensure the configuration of the midland VECs would be Longford-Westmeath and that the headquarters would remain in Mullingar. In response to the threat of a possible merger of Laois-Offaly and Westmeath, Westmeath VEC set up a sub-committee to produce a position paper. The findings supported the VEC proposition that all existing Westmeath VEC services should be provided from the current head office in Mullingar, as well as providing services for additional clients if the need arises. I was acutely aware of this because I had been a member of the VEC since 1999.

The sub-committee based its decision on eight principal findings, including the strong geographical location. Mullingar is the centre of Ireland and is a commuter town. There are eight experienced and skilled staff, who have demonstrated extraordinary willingness to meet deadlines. The VEC has a strong record in further education. It has 12 centres and 6,227 people have benefited from the range of programmes and services. This represents one in eight of the 49,619 people who have left school in Westmeath. Some 6,122 learners are availing of aspects of FETAC learning, one of the highest per capita rates in the country. The centre has state-of-the-art ICT software, positive user experience and expertise. Westmeath VEC is the recipient of awards for innovative ideas and achievements. All courses are FETAC accredited up until level 6. There are strong third party external relations, including the Athlone Institute of Technology, Moate Community College, Athlone Community College, Westmeath County Council and the county development board. There is a growing population in Westmeath, which is important to acknowledge. Opportunities for further growth and development exist because Mullingar is part of the spatial strategy and it makes sense that the VEC is located in Mullingar.

Removal of the headquarters from Mullingar will have a serious negative impact on culture, it would be a major blow to the town and the county in terms of confidence and reputation and would lead to increased costs, retraining of unskilled staff, the disruption of services, additional software licences, an impact on services, the potential loss of capability and interference with well-developed services, the threat to the standard of education provided to adults and a dilution of services. A move would also have a serious impact on the staff, with the danger of losing key staff, their skills and capabilities. It will also have an impact on VEC effectiveness. This would lead to the diminution of local control. There will also be a financial impact, with a financial loss to Mullingar, and a negative impact on local banks, shops, hotels and ancillary services. Taking these matters into consideration, it is vital that the configuration of the Midlands VEC is Longford-Westmeath, with the headquarters located in the current head office in Mullingar. This should be done in order to continue to provide services to existing clients. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy McFadden for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, who cannot be here tonight. He asked me to acknowledge the deep interest and expertise Deputy McFadden has in this area. I refer to what the VEC sector has achieved in her constituency and elsewhere. Deputy Quinn and I are aware of her interest in this issue as a Senator and as a member of the local authority in Westmeath. We are facing challenging times as a country. That is particularly true of the education sector. We need to build on the strengths of the VEC sector in tackling these challenges.

The VEC sector is well positioned to play a key role in the transformation of our education system given its long-standing ability to respond and innovate to new challenges across society. Earlier today the Minister announced that the City of Dublin VEC will operate as the new centralised authority for administering the student grants system. This is an excellent example of the VEC sector playing its part in public sector reform.

A reconfigured VEC sector with a reduced number of VECs will provide for a more efficient deployment of resources, a very important issue in the current difficult economic environment. Equally importantly, it will provide strengthened capacity at VEC level to drive improvements in our education system. The Minister for Education and Skills has already indicated his intention to proceed with a reduction in the number of VECs.

Although the previous Government decided on the merger of particular counties, the Minister recently extended an invitation to the Irish Vocational Education Association, IVEA, to submit alternative rationalisation proposals, following the IVEA's expression of concerns regarding the specific configuration of the proposed new entities. While the Minister is open to proposals from stakeholders, this invitation should not be construed as meaning that the process of rationalisation will be slowed or diminished in any way. In parallel, the practical work needed for the restructuring is continuing. For example, departmental discussions are taking place with unions on staff related issues. No decision has been taken on where headquarters should be based. A range of factors need to be considered, including the configuration of the reduced number of VECs and the existing building stock in different VEC areas. Department officials have consulted on this issue and the Minister will be considering this and other implementation matters in due course.

In the programme for Government, the Government is committed to local devolution of administrative functions relating to maintenance, school building projects and co-ordination of support services currently carried out by principals. VEC rationalisation will enable and support such devolution and will not affect the delivery or quality of front line education provision in any way. In addition, the new VEC entities will be well positioned to bring enhanced purchasing power, through leveraging, to bear on securing value for money for schools and the wider provision of education providers at all levels of the school system.

The decision the Government will make on particular mergers and the location of the headquarters of the new entities will be driven by how we can deliver the most effective and efficient local structures to ensure high quality education outcomes at local and national level. I thank Deputy McFadden for affording me the opportunity to respond to the House on this matter. I will make sure the Minister is fully apprised of the comments made in the context of the Adjournment matter, which is of crucial significance to Deputy McFadden's constituency.