Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date in relation to the rationalisation of vocational education committees; the likely timescale for the implementation of the necessary legislation; when the new headquarters for each new VEC entity will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25213/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Earlier this year, the Government decided to maintain the reduction in the overall number of VECs from 33 to 16 decided by the previous government, to revise the configuration of VECs and to approve in principle the consolidation of the existing VEC legislation.

I hope to have the approval of the Government within a matter of weeks for the publication of the General Scheme of an Education and Training Boards Bill and its referral the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education. I believe the Committee can perform a very useful role in relation to this important piece of legislation. When the Committee has finished its work drafting of the bill can be finalised with a view to having it introduced to the Dáil and Seanad early in 2012.

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.