Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 420: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount spent on the administration of all vocational educational committees here, that is the amount spent on the administration of the bodies as distinct from the schools under the control of the VEC's; the number of VEC's here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3079/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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There are 33 vocational education committees (VECs) established under, and governed according to, the Vocational Education Acts, 1930 to 2001. Each VEC is a statutory body with its own corporate status.

Financial allocations are made to the VECs as part of a block grant. VECs are given a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of their budgets and each VEC is allowed to distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and perceptions of need. Accordingly, my Department does not have available to it a detailed breakdown of the distribution of funds by VECs across their schools and head offices.

However, I can inform the Deputy that VECs spent approximately €58.5 million on what is termed administration pay in 2008. I should clarify for the Deputy that this figure does include an element of expenditure on the pay of secretaries in VEC schools.