Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the grounds on which it was decided to change the previous proposed amalgamation of Roscommon and Galway Vocational Education Committees and now amalgamate Roscommon with the two Galway VECs; the reason it was decided to cut the number of VECs in Connacht from six to two; if the headquarters will be in Roscommon; if all staff in the three VECs have to move to these new headquarters; and if there will there be sub-offices. [20417/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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On entering office, I invited the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) to submit alternative rationalisation proposals following their expression of concerns regarding the configuration of the revised entities decided by the previous government. The IVEA subsequently submitted a proposal that involved a reduction to 20 in the number of VECs including a merger of Co. Roscommon VEC with Co. Mayo VEC. I am satisfied that having regard to cost and critical mass considerations, a reduction to 16 new entities is appropriate. Consequently, while the new configuration takes account of the IVEA submission to the greatest extent possible, a number of the new entities differ from those suggested by the IVEA.

The merger of Co. Roscommon VEC with the two Galway VECs while Leitrim is joined with Mayo and Sligo results in two VECs which are cohesive in a provincial context. This new VEC structure fits with the Government's policy of reducing the number of agencies and is consistent with the strategic objectives of the transforming public service agenda through service delivery by a smaller number of agencies, each benefiting from efficiencies of greater scale. This change will better position the sector for future development and will facilitate the required reductions, under the public service Employment Control Framework, of administrative staff employed in VECs, while protecting the services provided by VECs.

At this point the only firm and absolute decisions taken by the Government are the decision to reduce the overall number of VECs from 33 to 16, the decision on the merger of particular counties (i.e. the revised configuration) and the decision to approve in principle the consolidation of the existing VEC legislation. I am currently giving consideration to the question of where the headquarters of the new entities will be located. The outcome of these deliberations will be announced in the coming period.

Many of the detailed aspects of the restructuring, including the deployment of staff in the new entities 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. Implementation will involve consultation and negotiations with the unions representing employees in the sector and other stakeholders. The Croke Park Agreement provides the backdrop for these negotiations.