THE Minister for Education, Ms Breathnach, has signed an order amalgamating five town vocational education committees with their county VECs. This means that on January 1st, 1998, Bray becomes amalgamated with Wicklow VEC, Drogheda with Louth VEC, Tralee with Kerry VEC, Sligo town with Co Sligo VEC, and Wexford town with that county's VEC.
The order followed a report to the Government prepared by the steering group of the Commission on School Administration Needs. Following its consideration, the Cabinet decided the process of rationalising VECs should begin with the making of orders amalgamating the five town VECs with their respective county counterparts.
The Minister has also appointed Mr Michael Breathnach, a former chief executive officer with Wicklow VEC, as facilitator to ensure the amalgamations go ahead without problems. But local committees representing the five towns will be retained until the next local elections.