Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the new structures for the proposed vocational education committees; if he will list the designated chief executive officers for each of the committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40350/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In June of 2011, I announced that the Government had approved a revised reconfiguration of the Vocational Education Committees system. The Government decision confirmed that the number of VECs would be reduced to 16 but involves different mergers to those announced by the previous Government.
In October 2011 the General Scheme of an Education and Training Boards Bill was referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education. The General Scheme was also published at that time. Following discussions with this Department and relevant stakeholders, the Committee
prepared a report which I responded to at a meeting of the Committee on 25 January 2012. The General Scheme was then referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government for formal drafting. It is hoped that the Bill will be published in the very near future.
Also in October 2011, my Department concluded an agreement with SIPTU, the trade union representing the Chief Executive Officers of VECs, on a redeployment scheme for CEOs in the context of the Croke Park agreement. This scheme is being used, in the first instance, for determining the appointment of CEOs to the new Education and Training Boards, following the enactment of the relevant legislation.
Arising from the implementation of the scheme, CEO Designates have been assigned to 14 of the 16 new Education and Training Boards.
Each CEO Designate will be tasked, in addition to performing the functions appropriate to the grade of CEO within the VEC in which s/he is currently employed, with liaising with the CEOs and Vocational Education Committees of each of the constituent VECs in the proposed new body to maximise cohesion between the constituent VECs prior to establishment day and to facilitate the merger. No additional allowance will be paid for the duration of assignment as
CEO Designate.
Appointments of CEO of the proposed Education and Training Boards will occur
following enactment of the relevant legislation.
No assignment of CEO Designate has been made for the Co. Kerry Education and Training Board. Ms Jacinta Stewart, the current CEO in the City of Dublin VEC will be appointed as the CEO of the City of Dublin Education and Training Board following the establishment of the new Board.
A list of the education and training boards together with the assigned CEO
Designates is contained on the attached table.

CEOs Designate assigned