Education and Training Boards replace VECs
July 2, 2013
Major reform will deliver more than €2m savings annually
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., has today announced the establishment of 16 new Education and Training Boards (ETBs), that will replace the 33 Vocational Education Committees (VECs).
Minister Quinn said: “Today marks a new era for education and training in Ireland. The new ETBs will strengthen locally managed education and enhance the scale of local education and training. This represents a major component of the public service transformation agenda. At a time when the need for training and reskilling has never been more important, it is crucial to provide appropriate programmes and courses that offer students and learners the best opportunities to progress. We must do all of this while providing value for money to the taxpayer.”
This major reform will reduce the number of Chief Executive Officers in line with the number of bodies and full year savings are estimated at €2.1m.
The new configuration paves the way for exciting new provisions that will provide for the establishment of SOLAS, the dissolution of FÁS and the transfer of training functions to the newly formed Education and Training Boards. The Further Education and Training Bill 2013 to provide for the establishment of SOLAS will be enacted this month. It is envisaged that SOLAS will be formally established before the end of this year.
As part of the change, the Irish Vocational Educational Authority will change its name to Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI). ETBI will represent the Education and Training Boards and promote their interests.
“I want to pay tribute to all stakeholders – staff, councillors, managers, parents, teachers and students – who will be instrumental in ensuring the success of the Education and Training Boards,” Minister Quinn said.
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