Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide clarification on the scope and definition of further education in the context of forthcoming legislation on the rationalisation of vocational education committees and training and skills; if further education will encompass adult literacy, community education and the back-to-education initiative, and Youthreach skills for work and workplace learning, particularly in view of the success to date in these particular areas due to the flexibility of part-time learning opportunities and the fact that the part-time structure model represents good value for money in terms of training and upskilling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22373/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I am currently reviewing options regarding the provision of further education and training and the structures to support it. In relation to the amalgamation of Vocational Education Committees (VECs), officials in my Department are working on the preparation of new legislation to bring the changes about and as a general principle I am anxious to ensure that the amalgamation process is done in a manner that is not disruptive in any way to the provision of existing services and provision by individual VECs.