Cavan VEC is bigger and better

"The criteria was created after the decision was made," claimed Cllr Shane P. O'Reilly at Monday's Cavan County Council meeting when members all expressed their deep unhappiness at the decision to locate the headquarters of the proposed new amalgamated Cavan/Monaghan VEC in Monaghan to be known as the Local Education and Training Board. Nationally, the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, has reduced the number of VECs from 33 to 16. Cllr O'Reilly, who is Vice Chairperson of Co. Cavan VEC, claimed that the allocation of €37m for an education campus on the former army barracks site in Monaghan was the deciding factor but it was doubtful if such a campus would now ever be built. On the other hand, he claimed Co Cavan VEC was a bigger VEC, there was a bigger enrolment at VEC schools here and there was a 30-year lease on Cavan VEC administrative offices, which was a much larger facility than its Monaghan counterpart. Earlier Cllr Madeleine Argue, chairperson of Co Cavan VEC, expressed her deep disappointment at the decision, which she said flew in the face of all of the achievements made by the Cavan VEC over the years both in its second level schools and in the development of Cavan Institute. All of the councillors strongly voiced their opposition to the proposal and it was agreed that the council would seek an immediate meeting with the Minister to ascertain what criteria was used in making the decision and to have it reversed. Staff outrage Cavan staff learned of the decision from the internet and were not informed directly. The bombshell, which was made public on the Department of Education website, also disclosed that a sub office will be located in Cavan. Speaking to The Anglo-Celt, Cllr Argue said: "It was also very disappointing that our hard working and loyal staff and committee members had to learn about the announcement off a website, rather than through more official channels and a consultative approach." A spokesperson for the 20 administrative staff in County Cavan VEC told The Anglo-Celt this week that all the staff were "very shocked and absolutely baffled" by the decision. The spokesperson for the County Cavan VEC staff said it was reported at the weekend that Wexford had been selected as the head office, because they had a larger scheme than Waterford. He wondered why that criteria appeared to have been used there and it did not seem to apply in the Cavan and Monaghan situation. Successful Monaghan lobby It has now emerged that the Monaghan Dáil Deputies engaged in intensive lobbying at Ministerial and Departmental level. Deputy Heather Humphreys, Sean Conlan and Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin had a meeting with Minister Quinn in regard to the issue. Deputy Humphreys told The Anglo-Celt that she also wrote to the Taoiseach Enda Kenny and he passed her letter onto Minister Quinn's office. The Anglo-Celt understands that it was hammered to Government on behalf of the VEC, that there was no way they were going to accept losing out on this occasion. They made the representations on the basis that Monaghan had lost the district veterinary office in Ballybay, St Patrick's Agricultural College in Monaghan town, Monaghan Army Barracks, Castleblayney Army Barracks and the A&E Services at Monaghan General moved to Cavan. Deputy Caoimhghin O'Caolain welcomed the indication that there will continue to be a VEC presence in both Monaghan and Cavan. Also, at their meeting on Monday of this week, members of the Co Monaghan VEC welcomed the news that the HQ for the newly amalgamated Cavan/Monaghan VEC (the Local Education and Training Board) will be in Monaghan. 'Gloves are off' A shocked Chairperson of County Cavan VEC, Madeleine Argue told The Anglo-Celt this week "that the gloves are off in relation to this decision". She added that they will be requesting to ascertain how this proposed new situation would actually work in reality. She is adamant that Cavan was the obvious choice for the new HQ and Cavan VEC sent in a top class and comprehensive submission in relation to the proposed amalgamation process. Cllr Argue pointed out that as far as she was aware, County Cavan VEC jumped all the hurdles in relation to the criteria set out for headquarters' status. "We have a higher population and a higher school enrolment."