Limits on number of committee personnel

STAFFING limits have been imposed on Vocational Educational Committees (VEC) as they prepare to expand their role beyond their work in schools and further education colleges, adult education and Youthreach programmes.

Teacher numbers in vocational schools and community colleges will continue to rise whenever student numbers increase from current enrolments of more than 78,000. However, it has been suggested that the Government may limit such increases by altering pupil teacher ratios and increasing class sizes in September 2012.

From next year, VECs will also take over the handling of all third level grants. They are also taking responsibility for most courses run by FÁS under the further education and training agency SOLAS, announced by Education Minister Ruairí Quinn last week.