Seanad debates

Tuesday, 19 October 2010

Restructuring of Vocational Education Committees: Statements

 

6:00 am

Photo of John Paul PhelanJohn Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

As I was watching the debate on the monitor in my office I decided to take the opportunity to raise some concerns about my area of Kilkenny. Following the McCarthy report, there was an expectation that rationalisation in the VEC sector was inevitable. In Kilkenny, there was an expectation that the report's recommendation to amalgamate the VECs of Kilkenny and Carlow would be implemented. However, there was, understandably, some degree of consternation when an arbitrary line was drawn to include County Kildare with Kilkenny and Carlow. I ask the Minister of State about the rationale for this. It is altogether too coincidental that the Minister's county of Donegal hangs on to its VEC while we create a thing in Leinster which stretches from Dublin city to Waterford city and call it Kildare, Carlow and Kilkenny VEC, or whatever its name will be. Where will its headquarters be? On a geographic level it makes no sense whatsoever. The population of that area is more than twice the population of County Donegal and it is comparable in area. I do not see the logic of combining those three counties together. It would have made some sense to amalgamate Carlow and Kilkenny with either Laois or Wexford. Kildare, Carlow and Kilkenny looks like something that was picked out of the sky. I do not know how the decision was arrived at.

Equally, it is bizarre that County Tipperary, which has two local authorities, will continue to have two VECs. An amalgamation of north Tipperary and south Tipperary would appear obvious, rather than putting south Tipperary with Waterford and north Tipperary with Clare. What sort of criteria were used to draw up these boundaries? I know population and the number of schools would have been factors. Surely common sense was a factor at some point. I do not see how the reconfiguration of County Tipperary can be explained. Although a member of Kilkenny County Council, I never had the privilege of being a member of the county's VEC. I am aware of the tremendous education the schools operated by County Kilkenny VEC have provided over the years.

I agree with much of what Senator Mooney said. Five or six years ago, the HSE was presented to us as the panacea for the country's health services. Now, however, even Government supporters acknowledge in private that the HSE has been a disaster from start to finish and, more importantly, the public is aware of its failures. The Minister of State now proposes to establish a similar series of education structures without a clear rationale for the decision.

In regard to staff roles, will we face a repeat of the HSE's policy of keeping everyone in the same position? The rationalisation the Government is seeking in these amalgamations will be defeated if all the staff remain where they are. That was the biggest fiasco to emerge from the establishment of the HSE. There are three chief executive officers at present in counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Kildare and while I understand one plans to retire in the not too distant future, the others will remain. Who will be appointed chief executive officer of the new committee?

I am a firm believer in local government and democracy. I understand the Government's logic and my party supported the McCarthy report's recommendation on reducing the number of VECs but the operation of local government should have been examined closely before these proposals were finalised. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government promised a White Paper on local government reform more than a year ago. Vocational education, health service reform and joint policing committees have roles to play in local government. If the Government is serious about building local authorities that deliver services locally, education provision should be part of their remit. In most EU countries, local authorities play a role in the provision of education. Perhaps the Minister of State can indicate whether local representatives will be involved in the new committees.

The Minister of State mentioned a transition period of 18 months. Will the existing VECs be disbanded or will the new committees be appointed first? How does he envisage this change taking place in practical terms?

Students are facing serious challenges in the provision of third level grants because of delays in processing. Given the cost of processing grant applications by VECs and local authorities, surely it is time they were managed by one body within each county. Perhaps the Minister of State can clarify whether such a change will form part of his proposals. Students should not have to wait as long six months for their grants because it is impossible for many of them to find part-time employment. For these students, a grant means the difference between being able to stay in college and dropping out. It is unacceptable that some counties are taking months to process grant applications. I hope the changes being announced to the VEC structures will mean we can expect applications to be processed more promptly in the future.

Some of the proposed changes to the geographic areas of VECs appear bizarre but perhaps the Minister of State can shed further light on them in his concluding remarks.

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