Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

As always, Senators have provided a very useful and timely discussion on the restructuring of VECs. A number of speakers, including Senators Ormonde, O'Sullivan and Leyden, paid tribute to the valuable role played by the VEC system since its inception 80 years ago. VECs play a wide and important range of functions, as legal patrons of schools, members of boards of management of comprehensive schools, providers of adult and further education, players in the Government's labour market activation strategy and flexible and responsive promoters of social inclusion. Since I was appointed a Minister of State four years ago I have worked closely with VECs on the provision of further education. They play a crucial role in our upskilling and employment activation agendas.

Senators raised a number of detailed questions. The only firm decision taken thus far by the Government is to reduce the overall number of VECs from 33 to 16 and the merger of particular county committees into a revised configuration. The details of the restructuring will be worked on by the Department in conjunction with the VECs concerned in advance of mergers.

A number of Senators advised us to act quickly. The projected timescale for the restructuring is 18 months but departmental officials will meet the IVEA as early as tomorrow to advance their agenda and work has commenced in the Department on the heads of a Bill which will go to Cabinet for approval in due course.

In regard to industrial relations issues, the Croke Park agreement will be the guiding document for staff redeployment and the new structures. Issues will be addressed in consultation with VEC staff and there will be no interruption of service delivery or programmes in VEC schools and centres of education. The restructuring programme will be delivered under the management of senior officials in the Department but VECs will be consulted at all stages. A question was asked about the €3 million in projected savings. This figure represents ongoing annual savings.

The break with county structures was referred to. The continuation of strong links between a new VEC and the counties from which it is formed will be a fundamental feature of the new structure. Each county involved in a merger will be represented on the new VEC.

A number of Senators, especially from the Opposition side of the House, asked why County Donegal VEC was not amalgamated with another VEC. As matters stand, on the basis of budgets, the largest VECs are, first, City of Dublin VEC, second, County Dublin VEC, third, County Cork VEC, fourth, County Donegal VEC and, fifth, City of Cork VEC. The Government considered that these VECs should be retained as is, except for the inclusion of Dún Laoghaire VEC with County Dublin VEC. The retention of County Donegal as a stand-alone VEC was recommended by officials in the Department of Education and Skills prior to the appointment of the Tánaiste as Minister in that Department.