Irish Vocational Education Association

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IVEA Regrets Passing of the Student Support Bill
26 January 2011
Statement by Michael Moriarty, General Secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA)
The passing of the Student Support Bill in the Seanad yesterday is a matter of regret for Ireland's Vocational Education Committees (VECs), whose trojan work in processing student grant schemes has not been sufficiently appreciated over the past number of years.
IVEA regrets the change of heart by government in recent times, following the commitment in 2006 by the then Minister for Education to transfer the administration of all student support schemes to our member VECs. This decision was reversed in favour of the proposals contained in this Bill.
In recent years, there has been no real appreciation of the complexity of the grants administration function undertaken by VECs over the years. The fact is, however, that a hugely important part of administering and processing student grants is the capacity to give personal and local assistance to grant applicants and their parents.
Such matters frequently involve a considerable amount of time and, arguably, will not be a feature of a central grants agency, with the student, whether school-leaver or mature student, and his or her family ultimately losing out. With the passing of this Bill, the educational dimension and expertise provided by VEC grants staff will, regrettably, be lost forever. Only time will tell if the students and their parents will be better served by the proposed new single grant awarding authority.
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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