Seanad debates

Wednesday, 14 May 2014

Adjournment Matters

Education and Training Provision

4:55 pm

Photo of Mary MoranMary Moran (Labour)
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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 Unfortunately, they were given no reason as to why funding will be withdrawn next year.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.

Photo of Ciarán CannonCiarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Moran for raising this matter on the Adjournment. As everyone is aware, significant reforms are ongoing at every level of the Irish education system, particularly in the further education and training area and in higher education. We are slowly but surely moving towards a closer alignment to the labour market based on evidence from all relevant stakeholders, including employers, learners, the unemployed and international best practice. Just two days ago the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, and I launched Ireland's first ever further education and training strategy which sets out exactly the route for all learners, irrespective of their existing skills set and levels of attainment, to access a very high quality and meaningful further education and training opportunity. The aims of these reforms can be summarised as follows: to support inclusion and diversity; to improve equality and accountability; and to create opportunities for learners and trainees to go on to the next level of training or into the world of work.

It is my Department's objective and ambition to create a strong, relevant and co-ordinated further education and training sector through structural change which involves a number of reforms. Central to the reform process has been the creation of SOLAS, our new further education and training authority, which is tasked with a co-ordinating and funding role and the local education and training boards, ETBs, which are tasked with the delivery of further education and training services. We now have our 33 VECs amalgamated into 16 ETBs, each with the scale and capacity to improve the opportunities offered to those out of work. By 1 July, all of the former FÁS training centres will have transferred over to the ETBs and the training that takes place within those centres will be provided under the auspices of the ETBs.

SOLAS was tasked with preparing a five-year strategy which was published this week. The strategy was devised through an exemplary consultation process, which involved seeking and listening to the views of everyone involved in the sector, from learners to Government and from employers to trade unions. SOLAS submitted the strategy to the Minister for Education and Skills on 31 March and it was officially launched this week.

SOLAS is tasked with achieving the best possible outcomes for our learners, value for money for the taxpayer and appropriate standards of corporate governance by training providers. I understand that following a review of learning outcomes and a cost benefit analysis, SOLAS training north east has decided to discontinue funding for Drogheda Community Training Centre from May 2015. I am informed that current learners will be supported to complete existing programmes and individual learning plans will be agreed and supervised by SOLAS and Drogheda Community Training Centre to ensure continuity of service delivery. Early school leavers who would normally have been referred to the centre will receive priority referral to access other suitable training programmes in the Drogheda area. It is the intention that over the next 12 months Louth Meath Education and Training Board, including SOLAS training north east, will engage with all relevant stakeholders with a view to further enhancing provision for early school leavers in the Drogheda area. SOLAS and I would like to thank the staff and the board of management of Drogheda Community Training Centre for their service and professionalism in dealing with these matters.

Photo of Mary MoranMary Moran (Labour)
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If I understand the Minister of State correctly, this decision is based on the review of the learning outcomes and a cost benefit analysis. Will all of the students who are currently attending the centre move to other centres or finish their courses in Drogheda? Can the Minister of State guarantee that?

Photo of Ciarán CannonCiarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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No student will be disadvantaged in any way by this closure.

Photo of Mary MoranMary Moran (Labour)
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Will the students have the same access to courses?

Photo of Ciarán CannonCiarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Photo of Mary MoranMary Moran (Labour)
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What will happen to the staff of Drogheda Community Training Centre?

Photo of Ciarán CannonCiarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I am not aware of the arrangements that have been made for the staff. I will speak to SOLAS and the local ETB and provide that information to the Senator as soon as possible.

Photo of Mary MoranMary Moran (Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State.

The Seanad adjourned at 8.50 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 15 May 2014.