The Government has decided to cut the number of Vocational Education Committees by more than half.
The cuts are to be achieved through the amalgamation of existing VECs bringing the total number from 33 to 16.
The amalgamations will take place right across the country.
Making the announcement, Tánaiste and Minister for Education Mary Coughlan said legislation would now be brought forward to provide for the changes.
Representative body, the Irish Vocational Education Association, said the VECS will be considering the announcement.
Co Dublin and Dún Laoghaire VECs are to be merged, as are the Galway city and county VECs.
The City of Limerick VEC is to merge with Co Limerick and Co Kerry VEC.
The Waterford city and county VECs will merge with Tipperary South Riding VEC.
Carlow, Kilkenny and Kildare VECs will be amalgamated as will Louth and Meath VECs, and Cavan and Monaghan VECs.
Other merges include Mayo and Sligo VECs, Leitrim, Roscommon and Longford VECs, Clare and Tipperary North Riding VECs.
Today's decision goes further than that recommended in the McCarthy report.
It recommended cutting the number from 33 to 22 this would result in annual savings of €3m.
