User:rorynoonanDate:22/05/2013Time:08:04:23Edition:22/05/2013Wedwedecho220513Page:1Color:

S e r v i n g C o r k f o r 1 2 0 y e a r s

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EDITION NO. 34,918WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013 RRP: e1.50

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VEC school budgetsslashed by up to 50%SCHOOLS and colleges run byCounty Cork VEC are facing“phenomenal cuts” to theirrunning cost budgets in theacademic year ahead.

Some of Cork county’s 21 VECschools could be hit by a cut of morethan 50% to non-pay funding as part ofa nationwide €13.2 million funding cutto the VEC sector, announced by theDepartment of Education in Budget2013.

The chief executive of Cork CountyVEC, Ms Joan Russell, said it’s washer job “to keep schools open” and shecalled on the Government to reversethe cuts which she said “discriminate”against VEC schools.

By MARIA ROLSTON funding cuts.Several Cork County VEC commit-

tee members have asked the CEO tocap the cuts at 50%, saying thatschools with high cash balances willbe “penalised” for hitherto prudentspending.

However Ms Russell said her “handsare tied” and she is obliged to carryout the department’s orders.

The department has stipulated thatthe VECs are to provide the same levelof service in 2013 as in 2012 and are touse all cash balances brought forwardfrom 2012.● See page four for more.

However she has told committeemembers that she could not promisethat some schools will not be affectedby cuts of more than 50% to theirbudgets for running costs due to themanner in which the cuts had to be ad-ministered, if the department’s de-cision was not overturned.

The cuts do not affect teachers’ payor classes, but will hit funding for ser-vices such as heat and lighting and arelikely to mean that schools with highcash savings will be affected by higher

Chief executive: I’m obliged to carry out orders

Joan Russell, chief executive of CorkCounty VEC.

Lord Mayor finishes chemo,prepares for radiotherapyTHE Lord Mayor has finishedhis chemotherapy treatment forHodgkin’s Lyphoma and isgetting ready for dailyradiotherapy for a month.Cllr John Buttimer, above,completed his chemotherapy onFriday and said he is verypositive about the future.

He has also urged anyone withhealth concerns to get checkedout sooner rather than later.Cork’s First Citizen wasspeaking ahead of the LordMayor’s Community andVoluntary Awards which takeplace at City Hall tonight.● See page three for more.

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