An Education and Training Board (ETB) (Irish: Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna) is one of sixteen statutory local education bodies that deliver a wide range of education services in the Republic of Ireland. ETBs manage a large number of secondary schools, further education colleges and training centres, multi-faith primary schools (Community National Schools[1]) and adult education centres throughout the country. They deliver a growing number of apprenticeships and traineeships across the State.
Originating from the Education and Training Boards Act of 2013,[2] ETBs came into existence on 1 July 2013, when they replaced the existing system of Vocational Education Committees (VECs) that had been in place since 1930.[3] [4] The training functions, which were the responsibility of the national training and employment authority Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS), and which had been taken on by the VECs when FÁS was dissolved,[5] were also transferred to the ETBs.[6] ETBs are statutorily responsible for the provision of all further education and training in the Republic of Ireland.
Also deriving from the Education and Training Boards Act,[7] Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI)[8] was established in 2013, replacing the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA). ETBI is the national representative association for the sixteen ETBs, and works to protect, promote and enhance the interests of vocational education and training within the wider education sector and the country at large.
There are 16 regional ETBS, replacing 33 VECs. On formation in 2013, the existing VEC members became members of the replacement boards.[6]
Each board has 21 members:
| ETB | Former VECs | Headquarters | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavan and Monaghan ETB | County Cavan VEC, County Monaghan VEC | Monaghan, sub-office in Cavan Town | ||
| City of Dublin ETB | City of Dublin VEC | Ballsbridge | ||
| Cork ETB | City of Cork VEC, County Cork VEC | Greater Cork | ||
| Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB | County Dublin VEC, Dún Laoghaire VEC | Tallaght | ||
| Donegal ETB | County Donegal VEC | Letterkenny | ||
| Galway and Roscommon ETB | City of Galway VEC, County Galway VEC, County Roscommon VEC | Athenry, sub-office in Roscommon Town | ||
| Kerry ETB | County Kerry VEC | Tralee | ||
| Kildare and Wicklow ETB | County Kildare VEC, County Wicklow VEC | Naas, sub-office in Wicklow | ||
| Kilkenny and Carlow ETB | County Carlow VEC, County Kilkenny VEC | Carlow Town | ||
| Laois and Offaly ETB | County Laois VEC, County Offaly VEC | Portlaoise | ||
| Limerick and Clare ETB | City of Limerick VEC, County Limerick VEC, County Clare VEC | Greater Limerick | ||
| Longford and Westmeath ETB | County Longford VEC, County Westmeath VEC | Mullingar | ||
| Louth and Meath ETB | County Louth VEC, County Meath VEC | Drogheda | ||
| Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB | County Leitrim VEC, County Mayo VEC, County Sligo VEC | |||
| Tipperary ETB | North Tipperary VEC, South Tipperary VEC | Nenagh, sub-office in Clonmel | ||
| Wexford and Waterford ETB | County Wexford VEC, County Waterford VEC, City of Waterford VEC | Wexford, sub-offices in Dungarvan and Waterford |