Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

33. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the concerns of staff and the local community will be listened to; if she will reverse the decision to relocate the Donegal Education Centre from Donegal town to Letterkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8542/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My department is committed to providing the best possible education experience for the children of this country. The education support centres play an important role by helping to ensure that our educators stay up to date with the latest teaching methodologies, and technologies.

Education Support Centres are independent bodies recognised under Section 37 of the Education Act (1998). They are managed by voluntary management committees comprised mainly of teachers. Under section 37 of that act, the functions of a centre’s management committee is “to manage the business and staff of that centre”. As such, decisions about how to run the centre to achieve the best learning opportunities for all teachers in the catchment area are a matter for the management committee.

I understand that in advance of their decision to relocate, the management committee of Donegal ESC (DESC) consulted with stakeholders including teachers, school leaders, Donegal ETB and others in early 2024. Following the consultation, which included a survey of teachers, DESC management committee decided in favour of the relocation.

It then supplied my department with a business case supporting the relocation.

I have been informed that the management committee have been in communication with the staff about this issue since early 2024, including issuing a staff survey, making contact with the relevant trade union and arranging a meeting in June 2024 where the potential relocation was discussed and staff were encouraged to identify their specific needs in the event of a move, such as flexibility, hybrid working models, proper workstations, and desktop computers.

DESC is planning to introduce a new hybrid working model to accommodate staff and allow more flexibility. Information on the model has been provided to staff.

While further engagement with staff and their representative in this area is ongoing, my department continues to encourage the DESC to act on the issues affecting staff members during this relocation, and any arrangements being made for same.