VEC board paid €375k expenses over five years

The board of the former Cork County VEC received nearly six times more in payments and expenses than its city counterparts in the five years prior to the amalgamation of the two organisations, correspondence to the Public Account Committee has revealed.

The payments come to light as the new Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) — the body formed from the amalgamation of the two bodies in July 2013 — has issued new guidelines to its members on expenses.

Payments to members of Co Cork VEC totalled €375,157.14 between 2009 and 2013, compared with payments of just €63,803.50 for the City of Cork VEC board for the same period.