Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 601: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers employed under the vocational educational committee system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4363/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 602: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of ancillary staff, outside of teaching staff, employed within vocational educational committee schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4364/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 603: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of staff employed in the vocational educational committee system; the breakdown of the number of staff employed by each individual VEC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4365/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 604: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of staff employed by vocational educational committees involved in delivering front-line services; the number of staff employed in an administrative capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4366/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 601 to 604, inclusive, together.

There are 33 vocational education committees (VECs) established under the Vocational Education Acts, 1930 to 2001. Each VEC is a statutory body with its own corporate status. The functions and responsibilities of the VECs, including their requirements to report to the Minister for Education and Science, are defined in the governing legislation.

VECs provide a broad range of educational services. In addition to providing post-primary education, further and adult education, they also have responsibilities in areas such as community education, training for early school leavers, basic literacy courses, traveller education and the provision of youth services. My Department provides the majority of the funding required by VECs for the delivery of these programmes.

As of January 2009 approximately 9,069 whole time equivalent (wte) teaching posts and 709 SNA (wte) posts are allocated to VEC post primary schools. A breakdown of the allocation of teaching and SNA posts to post primary schools in each VEC is attached for the Deputy's information.

The information sought by the Deputy in relation to non-teaching and ancillary staff is not readily available. I have asked my officials to compile this information and to forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 605: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the budget for vocational educational committees in 2009; the budget allocated in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4367/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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This Government's continued prioritisation of education over the last 11 years is evidenced from our investment in 2009 of €9.6 billion — over treble what it was in 1997.

The increase of €302m in the Education budget for 2009 is therefore a real achievement in the current economic climate. Education is one of only three Government Departments to have increased funding in 2009.

The provision for funding to Vocational Educational Committees (VECs) for 2009 shows an increase of more than 5% over the 2008 level. Funding to VECs for 2008 totalled €887.5m and this will rise to €936m in 2009.

VECs are given a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of their budgets. This allows each VEC to distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and perceptions of need.

The provision that I have made, in the context of the 2009 estimates, for this significant increase in the funding of VECs is a clear demonstration of my commitment to prioritise available resources in order to best address the needs of learners availing of services provided through the network of VECs.

The Deputy will appreciate that the figure for 2009 is based on the Budget announcement made in October 2008. Accordingly, in the light of the Government's recent announcement regarding further necessary economic and spending measures, the VEC budget figure for 2009 may yet be subject to some adjustment.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 606: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the proportion of the vocational educational committee 2008 budget spent on administrative services; the proportion of the VEC 2008 budget spent on teachers' salaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4368/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Financial allocations are made to the Vocational Education Committees (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 in 2008 VECs spent approximately €629m on what is termed instruction pay (teachers and special needs assistants) in post primary schools and approximately €58.5 million on what is termed administration pay in post primary schools and head offices.