Nessa Cosgrove (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Last week, I raised the proposed move of Donegal Education Centre from Donegal town to Letterkenny. Unfortunately, it looks as though this imminent move is still to happen. I urge the Minister for Education to intervene. Last night, an AGM was held in Donegal town, and the board of management is still refusing to properly engage with public representatives and the six employees, whose jobs will be moved from Donegal town to Letterkenny. The decision to move Donegal Education Centre is important not only for the six women employees, whose whole lives are built around Donegal town, but also for footfall in the town itself. Donegal town, like any other rural town, relies on people coming into it, visitors and people working there to support the local economy. Letterkenny is a much bigger town. Donegal Education Centre needs to stay in Donegal town.

The organisation, which is fully funded by the Department of Education, has instructed these six women to move their place of employment to Letterkenny, which is 53 km away. If these six women were treated as public servants, which they are in all but name, they could not be compelled to move their place of work by more than 45 km. The Minister for Education has repeatedly asserted that these six women are not State employees or public servants despite being funded by the State to deliver an important service to others who are directly funded by the State, such as teachers and special needs assistants, and they do not enjoy the protections and employment benefits enjoyed by public service employees.

This raises a wider issue of the many individuals who are working in voluntary and community sectors, that is, sections 39 and 56 workers, who deliver vital public services on behalf of the State but do not enjoy the same employment protection rights. It is not good enough for us to keep talking about this. I urge the Minister for Education to please listen to the people on the ground and ensure that the board of management will engage properly with all the stakeholders. There is a lot of concern and there is cross-party support.