VEC replacement boards to have extra powers

ALL schools could have access to the buying power and other expertise of the education boards that will replace VECs from next year.

The bill, to be published early next year by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn, gives new powers to the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) that will replace 33 city and county VECs.

But there is dismay in the VEC sector at the reduced number of local councillors and community nominees, with more than half of about 350 councillors to lose out. The current committees include between nine and 17 councillors each that will serve until after the 2014 local elections.