Call for people to come and show support for Save Our Education Centre campaign

A further public meeting relating to the campaign to keep Donegal Education Support Centre in Donegal Town is taking place, and organisers are appealing to the community to attend and show their support.

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Manus Brennan, a retired teacher and member of the Save Our Education Centre Committee said: “Please, please,  if at all possible come along to this Thursday night's follow up Public Meeting in the Abbey Hotel, at 8pm. 

“At the last meeting it was announced that our Dail public representatives would meet with the Minister for Education relating to the decision to relocate the Donegal Education Centre to Letterkenny, the consequent loss of the jobs of the six women on the staff and the huge loss to our town and its business community!  

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“This meeting will be an opportunity for the public representatives to report back on that meeting and any progress made since.

“So far Pearse Doherty TD, Pat the Cope Gallagher TD, Charles Ward TD, Senators Manus Boyle, Eileen Flynn, Nessa Cosgrave and many local  county councillors have confirmed their attendance.”

In January, the management committee of Donegal Education Support Centre announced plans to relocate to Letterkenny. This was met with much shock and dismay from staff, educators, and the business community of Donegal Town.

An AGM due to take place in the weeks following the announcement was postponed at the last minute, and has not yet been rescheduled. 

Appeals have been made to the Education Minister Helen McEntee to carry out an investigation into the relocation decision, given that the Education Centre voting members (all current and retired teachers in Donegal) were not given the opportunity to vote on such a major decision.

The staff’s trade union Fórsa has intervened due to the massive impact on those who work in the Donegal Town facility. The matter has been lodged with the Workplace Relations Commission for conciliation.

The meeting takes place in the Abbey Hotel this Thursday, March 20 at 8pm. 

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