In Pictures: Immense support for call to keep Education Centre in Donegal Town

We are not looking for heads, we are just looking for this nonsensical decision to be reversed. 

That was the over-riding message at a public meeting attended by close to 400 people in Donegal Town, where it was evident that there was huge support for keeping the Donegal Education Centre in the town. Click on the arrows for photographs from the evening, and read on to see why this decision has caused such outrage

The recently announced move to Letterkenny came as a massive blow to the six local, dedicated staff who have been consistent and professional throughout the centre’s 27 year history.

It was a big shock to many educators in the area who only learned of the move through a press release sent to some local media.

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The move is also a cause for concern among the Donegal Town business community.

And there is much head-scratching about how such spending of public funds can be justified when there isn’t a school in Donegal that is not crying out for more resources, from support for pupils with additional needs to, in some cases, badly needed new buildings.

Chaired by Geoffrey Browne, the top table included Mayor of Donegal Town Pauric Kennedy, local primary school principal Alison Pasquier, secondary school teacher Seamus Maguire, retired teacher Manus Brennan, and Donegal Community Chamber representative Mary McGettigan, all of whom are part of the newly formed Saver Our Education Group. Shane Lambert from the Foras trade union was also among the top table speakers.

Other members of the Save Our Education Centre group who were in attendance were Cllr Jimmy Brogan (Ind), Cllr Noel Jordan (SF), Senator Manus Boyle (FG), local businessman Brendan Brady, and the six members of staff affected by the move, and founding members of Donegal Education Centre.
The meeting also saw a notable attendance from councillors outside of the area who came along to show their support, as did TDs Charles Ward (100% Redress), Pearse Doherty (SF) and Pat the Cope Gallagher (FF). Retired TD Thomas Pringle who first raised the matter at Oireachtas level last year was also present to show his support, as were current and former councillors from the Municipal District of Donegal, Cllr Micheál Naughton (FF), Tom Conaghan and Barry Sweeny. Apologies were received from Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr Niamh Kennedy (Ind) who had a prior engagement, and Cllr Micheál McMahon (SF) who was ill.

There was a particularly notable turnout from members of the teaching community in south and west Donegal, many of whom expressed their anger and dismay that such a move could take place without being brought to an AGM. The meeting heard that all current and retired teachers have a right to vote in decisions regarding Donegal Education Centre. Yet, the AGM due to take place in January - after the relocation announcement was made public - was cancelled just hours before its scheduled start.

The business community was also well represented, with the relocation of the Donegal Education Centre being a major blow to the local economy.

Many others attended simply to show their support to the six members of staff who are most negatively impacted by the move. The management committee continues to deny that the staff were not consulted and properly informed. However, the meeting heard a detailed outline of how the staff were, while on their tea break, only informally told of plans for a move, and how they heard from a visiting tutor that they were moving to Letterkenny.

Outlining that the centre had been providing an excellent service to the county and surrounding counties from Donegal Town for more than 20 years, and how beneficial it was to the community, Mayor Pauric Kennedy said: “We are fighting to keep Donegal Town going, and these services are important.”

The mayor told those gathered that he was appalled by the treatment of the staff.

“I think it is a disgrace, the way it was handled, the way they were told about it, it is not right,” he said. “I have made several attempts as have all the committee to get in touch with the management, and have had no response.

“I want to thank you all for coming. It is really important to the ladies, to their families, to see the support of the community here.”

These sentiments were echoed by the other speakers.

Alison Pasquier said: “This decision has sent shockwaves through our community.”

She described Donegal Education and its staff as providers of a ‘super support system’ and said there was much misinformation in the statement issued by the management committee.

“I requested for the AGM, to raise my concerns, only for the AGM to be postponed,” said Ms Pasquier.

“We have a group with over 300 members all sharing the same concerns.”

Seamus Maguire said that there had been no mention of the relocation in the minutes of last year’s AGM.

“I would like to have been consulted on such a big decision, particularly when it affects local workers in such a big way,” he said.

“This year’s AGM was postponed on the very day it was supposed to take place.

“According to the constitution, the AGM has to take place by February 28.”

Manus Brennan talked about how the centre grew from a small group of teachers who were committed to organising training for educators in the county.

When education centres were first being established, Donegal wasn’t even on the list, he said.

However, he and fellow Labour Party members Shay and Meave Carbin met the then Education Minister, Niamh Breathnach. They appealed for Donegal to be included, and for the centre to be in Donegal Town.

The centre was given the go-ahead, and has gone from strength to strength in the intervening years.

Mr Brennan praised the staff for their service through challenging times.

He too expressed his anger that the matter was not put to a meeting of the full membership.

“When a serious issue like a relocation comes up, it should be done at an AGM,” he said.

“What is wrong with Donegal Town? They say they want it to be more central. If you want to be central, the last place you would go to is Letterkenny.”

Mary McGettigan spoke of how closely the community worked with the Education Centre, including placing a number of people on Community Employment Programmes.
“Some of them went on into full time employment because of their time there and the training and support they received,” she said.

Shane Lambert, Assistant General Secretary of the Forsa trade union, addressed the staff, saying that he had become involved in trade unionism because of a similar situation in his own life.

“I know the impact it has,” he said. “It is on your mind all the time, when you go to bed at night, when you wake up in the morning.

“I commend you for your integrity and bravery throughout.”

Cllr Jimmy Brogan reminded those gathered that changes could be reversed, and he hoped this would be the case.

He had a particular word of thanks for fellow councillors from outside the MD who came along to show their support.

One of these was west Donegal-based Cllr Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, who said he had spoken to members of the management committee and offered to mediate in any discussions.

Deputy Pearse Doherty said there were serious questions about how the relocation decision came about, both by the management committee and the Department of Education.

“I will stand with you shoulder to shoulder to fight this,” he said. “I have looked at it from all angles and it makes no sense for it to move.”

He called for the management to see sense and reverse the decision, and said he would be demanding a meeting with Minister Helen McEntee.

Deputy Pat the Cope Gallgher agreed that a meeting with the minister was necessary, and he said he had informed her of the situation.

“Nobody is looking for heads here,” he said. “All we want is that the centre will continue in Donegal Town. There is nobody lobbying in the Letterkenny region for it to be moved to Letterkenny.

“Good sense will have to prevail.”

Deputy Charles Ward who recently raised the matter in the Dáil, spoke of meeting the staff in the week prior to the meeting.

“My heart was broken on Friday speaking to you,” he said. “I am here for you.”

Senator Manus Boyle, who joined the Save Our Education Committee while serving as a councillor in the Donegal MD, had good news regarding a meeting with the Education Minister.

“I talked with Helen McEntee before leaving Dublin today and she agreed to meet us next week,” he said.

Cllr Noel Jordan said: “The most important people here tonight are the staff. To take them out of Donegal Town is massive.

“And if you take services like this out of a town, you take people with you.

“They are giving the two fingers up to Donegal Town with this nonsensical decision.

“I want to remind people that Donegal Town is open for business.”

It remains to be seen if an AGM will be called by the end of the month - and if not, what steps the membership will then take.

In the meantime, a public protest is being organised in Donegal Town, with details to be announced.

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