Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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157. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to detail all discussions and consultations that took place with staff before an announcement to relocate the Donegal Education Support Centre was made; if the views of staff were taken into consideration when making the decision; if so, the way in which they were so considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4971/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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.”

Decisions about how to run the centre to achieve the best teacher professional learning (TPL) opportunities for all teachers in the ESC catchment area are a matter for the management committee in the first instance. All staff members are employed by the management committee. Therefore, any decisions in relation to the terms and conditions of staff employment are a matter for the management committee.

It is my understanding that the management committee of Donegal ESC have been communicating with the staff about this particular issue since April 2024 and were in contact with a Forsa representative who was acting on their behalf as early as May 2024.

My department encourages both staff members and the centre management to engage on the issues affecting staff members and any arrangements being made for same, which is an important part of the process to ensure business objectives are achieved. I am aware that plans for a hybrid working model are underway.