Irish Vocational Education Association

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IVEA Welcomes Announcement of High-Tech Grants for PLC Schools & Colleges
17 November 2010
The Irish Vocational Association (IVEA) has welcomed today's announcement by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan TD that a one-off grant of €2 million will be provided to the PLC sector to provide ICT equipment for those students availing of opportunities provided by the Further Education Sector.
IVEA General Secretary Michael Moriarty says:
IVEA welcomes the Tánaiste's announcement which sees Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) schools and colleges included in the second round of grants under the ICT in Schools programme.
IVEA had requested the Tánaiste to reconsider the decision by the Department of Education and Skills to omit PLC schools and colleges from the first round of ICT grants announced in the Smart Schools initiative earlier this month. IVEA had argued that this would be putting students who attend PLC schools at a clear disadvantage to students who attend other schools, and further argued that PLC schools must have the most modern ICT facilities in order to ensure that their students were skilled appropriately for the needs of the labour market.
The announcement today recognises the critical role played by PLC colleges in equipping students with the up-to-date skills which will allow them to to participate in the Smart Economy.
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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 community national schools, second-level schools and colleges, Post Leaving Certificate colleges (PLCs) 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 PLCs 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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Phone: +353 (0)45-901070 / (0)45-901698
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