Nessa Cosgrove (Labour) | Oireachtas source

That is great. The Minister of State is welcome again.

My Commencement matter is in regard to Donegal Education Support Centre, which provides training and CPD training to primary and post-primary schools for the past 28 years in Donegal town. A total of 95% of classes are delivered online and there are outreach services throughout the country. It employs six female staff who are based in Donegal town. The Donegal Education Support Centre, however, has required that the staff move their place of work to Letterkenny, which is more than 60 km away.

This issue has been going on now for a while. The Minister of State has met with a lot of local representatives. I know they have had a meeting here. Senator Manus Boyle has been very supportive in this regard. Deputy Charles Ward and particularly Councillor Jimmy Brogan in Donegal town have been raising this issue a lot. There is another meeting happening tomorrow night.

I would like for the Minister of State to come back with a clear answer. The trade union, Fórsa, is involved and has requested that the Donegal Education Support Centre releases the business plan and evidence of consultation which has informed the move from Donegal town to Letterkenny. To date, however, it is refusing to do this, citing confidential matters. I would like the Minister of State to provide and release information, which would include the business plan, some of the evidence of the consultations which informed this business plan, who the stakeholders were and where they were based, as well as how the information was actually gathered that is trying to inform this plan.

I would also love to see the State recognise the fact that if the six female staff employed directly and funded by the Donegal Education Support Centre were seen under the public service agreement, it would be seen as inappropriate for them to move more than 45 km from their workplace, whereas Letterkenny is more than 60 km. While I am aware the Minister of State has come back saying she is looking into it and that the management committee has put forward a substantial business plan, I am seeking the evidence that is supporting that business plan, to find out whom the consultations were with, as well as more information regarding how this development plan came about.