Announcement on VECs soon

THE headquarters and designate chief executives of the 16 bodies to replace the 33 Vocational Education Committees (VECs) should be known in five to six weeks, the Dáil heard.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said discussions were ongoing with representatives of the 22 existing chiefs, while 11 other VECs have acting heads ahead of the mergers. He expects this to be finalised next year after legislation to consolidate nine laws surrounding VECs is passed.

However, he said, members of the 33 VECs which include more than 300 councillors will continue to serve on the new bodies until after the 2014 local elections.