Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, for coming to the House. Our interactions are almost a daily occurrence at this stage. I recently received representations from the staff at Drogheda Community Training Centre, following a letter they received on Friday regarding the withdrawal of funds by SOLAS from May 2015. This news came as a shock to the staff in the training centre. Unfortunately, they were given no reason as to why funding will be withdrawn next year. The chairperson of Drogheda Community Training Centre received a letter on 8 May which reads as follows:

In accordance with clause 25.1 of the agreement, we hereby notify you of our intention to terminate the agreement. This clause provides that any such notice must be given not less than 12 months in advance of such termination. Accordingly, unless terminated earlier, pursuant to clause 25.2, the agreement shall terminate on 8 May 2015.

No reason was given for the termination of the agreement. The community training centre, in partnership with SOLAS, provides important training for early school leavers and has a strong presence in the local community. The training centre provides an avenue for young people to achieve personal and work-related skills. The foundation this training centre provides has enabled countless numbers of young people to achieve goals that might otherwise not have been possible. Having spoken with staff from Drogheda Community Training Centre I can attest to the passion and commitment they have for their work. They are devastated by this news. The Drogheda Community Training Centre has provided an excellent service for 30 years and I sincerely hope we can find some way to ensure that this continues.
The Minister of State is well aware of the importance of these centres and the links they provide within the training process. I ask him to address this situation immediately as this will have a very negative impact on the local community and particularly on early school leavers.