Published: Wednesday, 2nd December, 2009 5:00pm

New VEC offices open

The Minister for Agriculture and Cavan/Monaghan TD, Brendan Smith, warned the executive, staff and members of the Cavan Vocational Education Committee (VEC) that they would face change in the future as the government reorganises the VEC to achieve cost efficiencies. He spoke as he officially opened the new Cavan VEC Administrative Centre at Church View Square (off Cock Hill) on Monday afternoon and endorsed the VEC here as one of the best in the country.

"One of the most pleasant duties for a minister is to officiate at occasions like this where a significant improvement in the service offered by the VEC is celebrated," said Minister Smith.

The success of the VECs was due to their willingness to embrace change through the development of programmes to meet a range of educational and training needs. Like other VECs, Cavan had expanded on its traditional role over the years and now administered a range of educational and community-based activities was.

The new building had a high-speed fibre optic connection to the Cavan Metropolitan Area Network, enabling the VEC to host applications for its schools and centres. As part of this project, a new 100MB link will connect to Cavan Institute, enabling nightly off-site back-ups in order to secure data.

"As part of its effort to deal with the economic challenges, the government is seeking fundamental change and transformation of public services, which play a major role in determining progress in our country."

An efficient public service was essential to ensuring a successful society and economic growth. "The transformation in how we deliver public services is not simply about saving money; it's also about identifying and putting in place the policies, systems, procedures and structures that ensure our public service can deliver well for the citizen."

The education minister was giving consideration to the reorganisation of the VEC sector, and he would bring the matter before government, so they had to remain conscious that the VECs would face change, the minister stated.

He congratulated the VEC under the chairmanship of Cllr. Madeleine Argue, CEO Colm McEvoy and staff on bringing the project to fruition. It will provide modern accommodation to enhance the delivery of services, he concluded.

Mr. McEvoy, said: "These new offices provide the VEC with an excellent work environment and modern facilities." Combined with the success of Cavan VECs, the welcoming ethos, committed and innovative committee and staff and a vision for the future, the new offices provided a platform and opportunities for the continued development and expansion of the VEC. The opening represented milestone in the development and expansion of the VEC in Cavan, a medium to large VEC in terms of education delivery and activity.

Currently the VEC provides myriad education services across the county to an increasingly urbanised and diverse community. A report on the VEC in Cavan compiled for the Department of Education showed the level of expansion since the mid-1990s. In 1995, Cavan VEC was 22nd nationally in terms of second level enrolment with 2,000 students in adult education; now it is 10/11th with 3,200 full-time and 4,000 in adult education across the county. The VEC employs 600 staff with an annual budget of €30m, fed directly into the local economy.

They were delighted with their new facilities and Mr. McEvoy could assure everyone they would be used to the maximum. Cavan VEC was a dynamic and innovative provider of education services: "We're operating in challenging times but the VEC has proved its ability to surmount all challenges. We look forward to the future and we're ready to take on additional functionality the minister."

Cllr. The chair of Cavan VEC, Madeleine Argue said the offices represented a lot of effort and it was a significant day for the VEC. "Cavan VEC's remit is extensive." As chair she was proud of the new offices, and she referred to her late father Senator Andy O'Brien and former chairman of the VEC, Clifford Kelly.

Senator Joe O'Reilly of Fine Gael said Cavan VEC has an important role in the education of the many people who now find themselves unemployed - lot of young people entered the building trade during the boom with little education and they now find themselves with little prospect of work. "The VEC has a pivotal role to play in educating those people," he said.

Bishop Leo O'Reilly and Canon Mark Lidwill blessed the new centre.

Return to: Homepage | News Index | This article