Coughlan to table plans to reduce VECs

PLANS to reduce the number of Vocational Education Committees (VECs) by about a third and make them more efficient will be brought to Government within three weeks by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan.

Despite strong opposition from the 33 city and county VECs, whose members include Fianna Fáil and other councillors, the Education Minister will propose amalgamating a number of neighbouring bodies in line with proposals from last year’s An Bord Snip Nua report on public service spending reforms.

She told the Irish Examiner that a strong element of public representation will be maintained on VECs, but the plans are in line with the need to reduce the cost of running public services.