Boards offer help for schools’ running costs

All schools could save on running costs with the help of the purchasing power of the education and training boards (ETBs) being set up next year.

The 16 boards will replace the 33 city and county vocational education committees (VECs) and their widened role will include the ability to help primary and second-level schools.

The provision in the outline of the bill almost a year ago, which will be published by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn this month, could help ease the impact of budget cuts to schools.