Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. I am very pleased to be able to respond to her and to do so on behalf of the Department. It is important to note the vital role the 28 education support centres throughout the country have on the delivery of national programmes of teacher professional learning. I am aware they also are an invaluable local resource for teachers in their catchment areas and are providing tailored and responsive professional learning opportunities for teachers to meet their identified needs in the region.

The Department of Education funds these centres and monitors governance. Under section 37 of the Education Act, each centre is required to have a management committee, appointed by the members of the centre, whose function by law is to manage the business and staff of that centre. Decisions about how to run the centre to achieve the best teacher professional learning opportunities for all teachers in the centre’s catchment area, including where to locate the centre, are a matter for the management committee. While I hear what the Senator says, I am just outlining the legal position.

I understand that, in advance of its decision to relocate, the management committee of Donegal ESC consulted with stakeholders, including teachers, school leaders, the Donegal Education and Training Board, the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, Atlantic Technological University, ATU, and Oide during March and April 2024 – just over 12 months ago - and that stakeholders supported and encouraged the move. The teacher consultation took the form of a digital survey that was distributed to primary, post-primary and special schools within the county.I am informed that the management committee also analysed the spread of primary and post-primary schools in County Donegal and attempted to identify the optimal location for an education support centre. A business case supporting the move to Letterkenny, a more central location, was developed. Donegal Education Support Centre engaged with the Department of Education officials on the business case and, as part of normal, good governance, queries were raised by the Department and addressed by the centre. These included queries on the potential financial implications of the move. Following the engagement, the Department of Education informed the management committee in mid-December of last year that it accepted the reasons underpinning the decision to relocate to Letterkenny.

As education support centres are independent bodies, the management committee is responsible for managing the business and staff of the ESC. All decisions in relation to the terms and conditions of staff employment are a matter for the management committee. The staff members of the ESC are not State employees and as such do not have entitlements to public sector benefits. They do, however, enjoy all the standard employment protections associated with an organisational decision such as this. It should be noted that the centre has confirmed that the director and management committee members have been communicating with staff members about this issue since November 2023 and were in contact with Fórsa representatives who are acting on behalf of the staff as early as May 2024. The management committee has developed a hybrid working model which allows staff the option of working from home for two days per week and flexibility around start and finish times. Fórsa has now requested WRC mediation, to which Donegal Education Support Centre has agreed. The management committee hopes this will provide a forum to address staff concerns.