Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 345: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the ongoing difficulties in implementing the Vocational Education (Amendment) Act 2001, resulting in Kildare VEC not yet holding a meeting of the new committee since the 2004 local elections; her views on the legislation to ensure, in particular, that parents are appropriately represented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5949/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that County Kildare VEC has not been in a position to hold the first meeting of its newly re-constituted committee. I understand that the reason for the delay is due to the finalising of the appointment process by the local authorities of four members from among nominated representatives of community, voluntary and other interests as set out in the Vocational Education (Amendment) Act 2001. It is expected that this appointment process will be completed shortly and that the first meeting of the new committee will take place in March next.

The Vocational Education (Amendment) Act 2001 represents a new departure by giving a statutory right to parents and guardians to be represented on VECs for the first time. The election of parent representatives heralds a significant step in the partnership process whereby representatives of parents, VEC staff and other relevant community interests will sit alongside elected local authority members on VECs for the first time. The Act provides for a balance in representation of members between the different categories with two members to be elected by parents, two members to be elected by VEC staff and four members to be appointed from among the nominated representatives of community, commercial and other interests in addition to the elected local authority members. I am confident that the views of parents will now be adequately represented on the new committees and I have no proposals to change the position at this stage.