Irish Vocational Education Association

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IVEA Welcomes Government’s Plans To Spend €39 Billion On Infrastructure To 2016
26 July 2010
Speaking on behalf of the Irish Vocational Educational Association (IVEA), General Secretary, Michael Moriarty, today welcomed the Government announcement to spend €39 billion on infrastructural projects between now and 2016. In particular, he welcomed 'the decision to provide 70,000 additional places in primary schools, 15,000 additional places in post-primary schools and the commitment to provide 730 schools with hyper-fast broadband.'
Notwithstanding the good news in the announcement, Mr Moriarty said he was 'disappointed at the continuing failure to provide funds for upgrading the facilities used to provide further education and training to many with relatively low skills who are seeking to improve their employment and life prospects at a very challenging time.' According to Mr Moriarty, many of the buildings used to accommodate further education and training provision are very much substandard and it is time that these facilities were seriously upgraded.'
While acknowledging that the investment would be spread over a period of some six years, and so would not have an immediate effect, Mr. Moriarty said the announcement 'could be expected to give hope to many who had lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn.'
'For 18 months or more, young people, in particular, were beginning to think of Ireland as a country without a future but this announcement might be expected to get them to look to the future again with some limited degree of optimism', said Mr Moriarty.
According to Mr. Moriarty: 'the improvement of national infrastructure is very much an investment in the future of Ireland and it's people and it should make Ireland more attractive to those looking to establish new businesses - whether they be Irish or foreign investors. After all, Ireland has a young, well-educated workforce and we are fortunately located within the EU.'
The investment, said Mr Moriarty, 'should also address some serious infrastructural deficits and result in increased employment in the construction industry which has been decimated in recent years'.
The Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) is the representative body for the 33 Vocational Educational Committees (VECs) in Ireland, and works to protect, promote and enhance the interests of vocational education and training within the wider education sector and the country at large.
VECs deliver a wide range of educational services, from managing second-level schools and colleges, post Leaving Certificate colleges and education centres to providing training programmes for Travellers, adult literacy courses, prisoner education services, Youthreach programmes, Vocational Training Opportunities Schemes, and community education programmes.
VEC/PLC Colleges have developed a range of programmes and courses in response to the needs of industry and commerce which are certified by FETAC at levels 3 to 6, and by the professional bodies which set standards for entry into the professions.
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