The announcement today of the establishment of a review of apprenticeship training and education is welcomed by the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) on behalf of member VECs.

IVEA General Secretary Michael Moriarty says,“This review process is both timely and appropriate as it coincides with the proposed transfer of the FÁS training function to the soon-to-be-established Education and Training Boards (ETBs). I have long argued for greater engagement between education and training with the business community. Our training system needs to become more aligned to the European model where Vocational Education and Training (VET), including apprenticeship training, is a priority activity for business and education and training. I look forward to engaging with the review and IVEA will be submitting our views as part of the review process.”

The Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) has given a qualified welcome to the publication by the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., of the results of primary school patronage surveys from 38 towns across the country. IVEA General Secretary Michael Moriarty said today:

In welcoming today's publication of the FET/SOLAS Bill IVEA General Secretary Michael Moriarty comments:

At long last the publication of this bill establishes further education and training as a sector in its own right with the same status as first, second and third levels. The establishment of SOLAS will ensure that further education and training is mainstreamed and now moves centre stage as a key element of the government's reform of education and training in Ireland. This restructuring of further education and training must really be recognised as the most significant reform for decades.

Under the strategic direction of SOLAS the soon to be established Education and Training Boards will have responsibility for the implementation of training programmes across the entire sector. A signification additional function will be the empowerment of ETBs (currently VECs) to provide training programmes specifically for employment purposes.

IVEA on behalf of member VECs will engage constructively with all key stakeholders to establish a vibrant and dynamic further education sector in the context of this Bill.

The Irish Vocational Association (IVEA) has welcomed today's announcement by Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, that fifty school projects are scheduled for construction in 2013.
IVEA General Secretary Michael Moriarty says:

The announcement of the provision of over 25,000 permanent school places, which includes over 21,000 additional school places, is very welcome. While IVEA recognises the financial constraints under which the government is working, we are glad to know that the Minister is prioritising school building projects to ensure that every child will have access to a school place.

IVEA General Secretary Michael Moriarty issued the following statement today:
There has been some considerable public comment that there has been no increase in the pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) in the public school sector in Budget 2013. This is incorrect, as the PTR in those schools or colleges that provide Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses will have an increase of two points in the PTR, from 17:1 to 19:1.

In one particular College of Further Education (CFE), this translates into 5.88 fewer teachers, which amounts to a loss of almost 10% of the total teacher cohort. This example demonstrates the impact of the cuts on the further education sector.

IVEA General Secretary Michael Moriarty issued the following statement today:

IVEA General Secretary, Michael Moriarty, today welcomed Minister Quinn's launch of new school self-evaluation guidelines for primary and post primary schools.

Statement by Michael Moriarty, General Secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA)

The publication of the Education and Training Boards Bill is welcomed by IVEA as a crucial statutory framework that will provide for the establishment of 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) to replace the present 33 Vocational Education Committees (VECs).
General Secretary, Michael Moriarty states:

The announcement today by Minister Ruairí Quinn of a major overhaul of the Junior Cycle education has been broadly welcomed by IVEA as a vital step towards ensuring that our young people have the opportunity to acquire the skills and competences essential to making the most of their lives - in the family, in the community and in the workplace.