Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

It is not the way I would have preferred it to be done. I accept that. When the decision was taken, a strategy report was available and an evaluation was carried out by the inspectorate. To give the background to the notification process, on Friday, 20 June, the director of the NCTE first attempted to contact the chair of the Association of Teachers' Education Centres in Ireland, ATECI, to say that the renewal of contracts would not be taking place. Unfortunately the chair of the ATECI was not available until 4.30 p.m., at which time the issue was discussed. Letters to the education centre directors were e-mailed at 4.45 p.m. and hard-copy letters were posted the same day.

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