This article is from page 48 of the 2013-07-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 48 JPG
A SIGNIFICANT number of staff of the former Clare VEC will remain in place Ennis following an amalgamation with VECs in Limerick city and county, according to chief executive officer George O’Callaghan.
Eighty three years of educational history came to an end last week when Clare VEC was re-branded as part of a new Education and Training Board (ETB) for Clare and Limerick.
The new organisation will continue to run schools and provide adult education while taking on new training functions that were previously the responsibility of FÁS. CEO George O’Callaghan said any change to the organisation would be gradual.
The VEC runs seven post primary schools in Clare catering for 2,200 students. Around 600 people are employed by the ETB in Clare.
While many staff are facing the prospect of being transferred to Limerick, Mr O’Callaghan expects that a number will remain in Ennis.
He explained, “Capital and procurement functions will remain in Ennis, a significant number of staff will remain in Ennis.
“Our work is education. That is our mission. And we would feel we have made significant contributions over the years. That will continue to be made because the schools will continue and the further education provision will continue as well.” Mr O’Callaghan continued, “The most significant new function that will be transferred to the new Education and Training Board will be the FÁS training function. The FÁS training centre in Shannon and Raheen will transfer to the Education and Training Board in early 2014. That will fulfill the objective in the new name of the entity. The broader training functions of FÁS will transfer across in 2014.” Mr O’Callaghan has been officially designated as CEP of the new Cork ETB but has been seconded by the Minister for Education to work on a project examining the provision of post primary education in Limerick City. Former CEO of Limerick VEC Sean Burke has been named as CEO Designate of the new Education and Training Board for Clare and Limerick. Mr O’Callaghan said he was honoured to work for eight years as CEO of Clare VEC. He said, “They were a great staff to work with, very hard working across the board. We’d a great team and a good atmosphere in which we conducted in our work. That will continue in the new ETB as well.”