The VEC would be better off saving on exorbitant rent costs rather than amalgamating, Labour councillor Colette Connolly said this week.
She said that she welcomes the unanimous decision of the CGVEC committee supporting her motion to call on the Department of Education to reconsider the amalgamation of the City and County VECs.
Cllr Connolly says she acknowledges the country is facing the biggest fiscal crisis in its history, however, the proposed savings of €3M on a €42M administration budget is negligible when considered against the costs of re-branding. Cllr Connolly says this is a significant issue to be considered as ESB re-branding has been costed at between €7-8m and Bord Gais at an unbelievable €40m.
Cllr Connolly says that if the Department sanctioned the purpose-built head office and educational facilities on the Tuam Rd site, it would save on rental payments to private landlords to the tune of €700,000 a year and a further €300,000 in administration costs - an overall saving of €1m.
She added that she is extremely concerned at the possible negative impact of the proposed amalgamation on the delivery of educational services to those most educationally disadvantaged, reducing accessibility, which is often a major factor in students deciding to return to education.
“It is questionable policy to announce the reduction of 33 VECs to 16 while having no concrete figures on the actual savings to be made. Nor has there been any assessment of the consequent impact of such changes on the delivery of educational services in the city and county.
“More importantly the announcement was made in the absence of any consultation with the unions, IVEA and various stakeholders, which ought to have taken place at the outset in order to inform the debate.” concluded Cllr Connolly.
