Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to bring to the attention of the House a serious matter that has developed in Donaghmede, Dublin 13, in respect of further education and community education services. The Trinity Adult Resource Group for Education and Training, TARGET, is based at St. Kevin's national school in Donaghmede and has been at this location since 1993, that is, for 23 years. It provides vital services to the community of Donaghmede and surrounding areas. These services include adult literacy for early school leavers and other adult learners experiencing difficulties in this area, a counselling service, counsellor training, community child care, English classes for non-nationals, community education and computer classes for the elderly. A community employment scheme with 30 participants also is based at TARGET. Some of these community employment scheme participants are outsourced to other community groups in the parish and play a vital role in community development.

It appears as though the host school, St. Kevin's, is under pressure for space. There was a previous agreement whereby TARGET would cede two classrooms back to the school for September 2016. However, TARGET received a letter from the school at the beginning of this month requesting that all the space be returned to the school by 30 June this year. In short, TARGET has been asked to vacate the building at very short notice. This has come as a severe blow and could lead to the loss of vital services in this area. Funding streams will be put at risk and employment could be lost. I thank the Minister for Education and Skills for his attendance this evening. He obviously is a local Deputy like me and I ask him to use his good offices to try to reach a negotiated agreement with the various parties with a view to solving this problem. At the very least, TARGET needs more time to try to deal with this difficult situation. It is clear that St. Kevin's national school requires more space. Perhaps a different solution can be found to ensure the school has the necessary capacity and I believe this must be explored further. It may also be that alternative facilities can be found for TARGET. I understand that a formal letter will be sent by TARGET in the near future to St. Kevin's school asking it to reconsider the matter.

In a previous life, I was Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills with special responsibility for adult and further education and training and I am, therefore, very much aware of the importance of adult literacy and community education. This plays a crucial role in disadvantaged areas in particular as regards personal development and has positive benefits for society as a whole. The loss of these services in Donaghmede would be devastating. Consequently, I ask the Minister to use his good offices to try to sort out this matter as the situation is urgent. He also, for example, could consider asking the City of Dublin Education and Training Board, CDETB, to intervene with a view to solving these difficulties. This requires a diplomatic solution and while I do not wish to tread on any toes in this regard, the services are well worth saving. With a little goodwill on all sides, a practical solution can be found. I look forward to hearing the Minister's response to this urgent matter.

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