It’s a two horse race to become the next mayor of Co Cork, according to sources within Fine Gael which has control over the county council.

A VEC has asked Education Minister Ruairí Quinn to remove a committee member who helped to expose a number of financial problems within the group.

County Cork VEC has said it is prepared to make a settlement with the Revenue Commissioners for the second time in six years.

The head of City of Cork Vocational Education Committee says he looks forward to continuing in the role after changes to a planned reshuffle of VEC chiefs nationally.

The Department of Education has revealed it is to tackle waste and mismanagement in the VEC sector by unveiling a new system of scrutiny.

Ruairi Quinn, the education minister, has rejected the advice of his officials and independent experts to decide who will be patron of two new primary schools.

Serious questions are raised by today’s Irish Examiner investigation into misuse of taxpayers’ money and lack of normal procedures at a State-funded Youthreach programme.

A SCHOOLS campus bringing primary and second-level education together in the west Cork town of Bantry is set to be finished by the end of next year.

THE families of four sixth class pupils refused entry to a second-level school – just over the fence from their primary school – have appealed to have the decisions overturned.

THE Department of Education has been urged to end delays on the announcement of grant schemes.

THE Junior and Leaving Certificate exams will be operated independently of the Department of Education from next summer.