Written answers
Tuesday, 22 October 2024
Department of Education and Skills
Departmental Programmes
Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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324. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current plans for the Donegal Education Support Centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42441/24]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Education Support Centres (ESC) are independent bodies recognised under Section 37 of the Education Act (1998). This legislation states that “An education support centre shall have a management committee, to manage the business and staff of that centre.”
The management committee of an Education Support Centre is a body corporate with perpetual succession, and typically carries out the following:
- Providing services to schools, teachers, parents, boards and other relevant persons
- Providing strategic guidance on the activities of the ESC.
- Maintaining up to date records which disclose at any time the financial position of the ESC.
- Ensuring that the ESC complies with all relevant Department policies and circulars and public financial procedures and legislation.
- Safeguarding the assets of the ESC
Decisions about how to run the centre to achieve the best TPL opportunities for all teachers in the ESC catchment area are a matter for the management committee in the first instance.
My Department has been informed that the management committee is currently considering relocating the centre and that it has engaged with stakeholders in this regard. My Department will continue to engage with the Centre as required to ensure that the Centre is providing optimum supports to fulfil its statutory remit and in line with public financial policy.
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