Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Is the Government actively seeking to dismantle the adult education sector? How else could the Minister explain a situation where adult education tutors with Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board, ETB, and other regions, were informed at minimal notice that their contracts were suspended and that their classes would not commence in September as planned? How could the Minister explain a situation where students planning to commence courses or to advance their qualifications actually turned up, only to be told that the courses had been cancelled? We are told that ETBs have cancelled these courses due to reduced budget allocations from SOLAS and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Does the Minister stand over this situation? Does he realise the impact this will have on adult education? If so, will he ensure that the Government immediately intervenes to resolve this matter urgently?

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