Ahern to ask Taoiseach to intervene in VEC cash crisis

THE vice-chairman of City of Dublin VEC is to ask his brother Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to intervene in a funding crisis which will restrict the number of women returning to education.

The 32 Vocational Education Committees (VECs) have had their grants to provide childcare for further education and training students cut by over one-third. This could lead to hundreds of women deciding against taking courses on the VTOS back-to-education programme, the Youthreach programme for early school leavers and the Senior Traveller Training programme.

The Department of Education provided a total of €4.7 million to VECs for childcare facilities for students on these programmes last year, including an initial allocation of €3 million.

However, this year’s budget was just notified last week, giving a total of €2.9 million, around 37% less than last year.

Some VECs have already decided they can not offer the same level of childcare as last year, and have informed students.

Alderman Maurice Ahern, vice-chairman of City of Dublin VEC, said no decision has been made not to open crèches in the autumn. The VEC received around 400,000 for this year, just 56% of the 2002 allocation.

Mr Ahern said the VEC has already spent its allocation for the year and mothers planning to take courses could have difficulties.

“When the Government was encouraging people to go back to education, they weren’t looking closely enough at the possible costs of childcare,” he said.

“I will be telling the Taoiseach about the situation, just like I tell him everything in my constituency. He will probably then take it up with the Department of Education.”

He said there are seven weeks before colleges return after the summer holidays but he is hopeful the situation will be resolved.

Michael Moriarty, the general secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association, has asked Education Minister Noel Dempsey to intervene in the funding crisis.

“The lack of childcare facilities is one of the most frequently cited barriers to participation in education by many of our VEC students.

“With the childcare allowances slashed, it is making it impossible for these parents to afford full-time education,” he said.