New LWETB Board

The new Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board has now been fully constituted including the council representatives from Longford and Westmeath County Councils, the staff Representatives, Parents representatives, and the representatives from the interested groups.

The Board on this occasion shows thirteen changes from the previous board with changes in the five members selected from the groups nominated by the Minister for Education and Skills. There was very positive interest from twenty-six groups and those nominated are of a significant quality including a former member of the Dáil and Senate as well as a solicitor, a former National Executive member of Comhairle na nÓg and a current member of the Teaching Council.

This is a very important time in the development of the Education and Training Boards and the framework within which we operate. The Introduction of the new Code of Governance for ETB’s in February brings with it significant changes in the responsibilities of the Board, the Board Members and of the Executive.

Training will be provided to all the chairpersons of all the ETBs by ETBI and this will be followed detailed training for all individual Board members. In addition, training will be provided for all Board of Management members over the coming months.

The regulatory environment that LWETB and indeed all ETBs operate has been becoming increasingly challenging over recent years and this trend can be seen to continue in the current reviews being carried out by the Audit and Risk Committee and the Finance Committee. It is good to has the assurance that LWETB has professionals from an accounting and commercial backgrounds supported by professionals from the agricultural and public sector in exercising their collective oversight of LWETBs activities. The Finance Committee having oversight with a future focus and the Audit and Risk Committee with a retrospective focus aimed and ensuring compliance was achieved and ensuring that risks are minimised in an appropriate manner.