Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 25: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposed amalgamation of vocational education committees from 33 to 16; if the draft heads of the required legislation have been prepared; if she will to publish the legislation ahead of the forthcoming general election; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47391/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has decided to reduce the number of VECs from 33 to 16 in order to deal with issues of scale and having regard to the current and prospective requirements of the education sector and has decided on the merger of particular city and or county VECs.

Consultations with the stakeholders, within the context of the Croke Park agreement, are underway in relation to the implementation of this Government decision. In addition, many of the detailed aspects of the restructuring will fall to be considered and worked through by my Department in conjunction with the VECs involved in any one merger before decisions are taken.

These changes will also require amendments to existing legislation and/or new legislative provisions. My Department has commenced work on the preparation of legislation with a view to bringing it forward during 2011.

It is anticipated that the project will have a timeframe for implementation of approximately 18 months.