Vocational Education (Amendment) Act, 2001

Cooperation between vocational education committees.

21.—(1) Any 2 or more vocational education committees may, with the consent of the Minister, make arrangements for the joint performance by them of any of their functions, and if any question arises in relation to such an arrangement the question shall be referred by the vocational education committees concerned to the Minister whose decision thereon shall be final.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), an arrangement to which that subsection applies may relate to the joint acquisition of land or property by 2 or more vocational education committees.

(3) The Minister may, if of opinion that 2 or more vocational education committees would more effectively perform any function if they were to perform it jointly with one another, direct that they so do, subject to such terms as may be specified in the direction.

(4) Before giving a direction under subsection (3), the Minister shall by notice in writing inform each of the vocational education committees concerned that he or she proposes to give such direction.

(5) A notice under subsection (4) shall—

(a) specify the Minister's reasons for proposing to give a direction under this section,

(b) specify the terms of the direction that he or she proposes to give, and

(c) invite the vocational education committee concerned to make, not later than 14 days from the date of the service of the notice, representations to the Minister in relation to the proposed direction.

(6) The Minister shall, in deciding whether to give a direction under this section or not, take into account any representations of a vocational education committee made pursuant to an invitation in a notice under subsection (5).

(7) The Minister may by direction amend or revoke a direction given under this section (including a direction under this subsection), and subsections (4), (5) and (6) shall apply in relation to a direction under this subsection as they apply to a direction under subsection (3) subject to any necessary modifications.

(8) A vocational education committee shall comply with a direction given to it under this section.