Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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320. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the lease has been signed for the move by a school (details supplied) to a premises in Letterkenny; if so, the duration of the lease; when lease comes into effect; the cost of the move, including start-up costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5523/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the Deputy is referring to the move of an Education Support Centre rather than a school.

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.

My department’s role in relation to ESCs is to resource and monitor to ensure effective operation and focus on TPL activities to bring about positive impact in the classroom in respect of teaching and learning.

While my department provides grant funding for the rental of a premises for the ESC, the management committee are the signatories on the lease agreement. Therefore, matters pertaining to the lease agreement are between the ESC and the landlord.

The management committee of the centre in question contacted my department to make it aware of the proposed relocation to Letterkenny last year. My department reviewed the detailed business case submitted. Following engagement, my department informed the centre in mid-December that it accepted the reasons underpinning the decision of the management committee to relocate to Letterkenny. I am informed that work to progress the relocation has now commenced. While matters in relation to the cost of the move are under consideration at the moment, I can confirm that the move is expected to be cost neutral over a period of time.