Marian Harkin
Question:109 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Education and Science if European funding granted to Sligo education centre will have to be returned in the event of the centre being sold. [6842/03]
Written Answers - Inservice Training.
In view of the expanding nature and complexity of their role, my Department agreed with the Association of Teacher Education Centres Ireland, ATECI, the representative body for the education centre network, to commission a review of the education centres to clarify their role, functions and developmental potential as a strategic part of the education system nationally, regionally and locally. The Centre for Management Organisation and Development, CMOD, of the Department of Finance was commissioned to undertake the review. This review has been a detailed process involving wide-ranging research and consultation with the key stakeholders.
The CMOD report was presented to my Department recently. The report contains a wide range of recommendations with regard to all aspects of the network. One of the agreed terms of reference for the review referred to the number, location and geographical remit of centres, and the CMOD review recommends the rationalisation of the education centre network. This recommendation would involve the closure of three full-time centres – Kildare, Kilkenny and Sligo – and the closure of all part-time centres excluding the Gaeltacht part-time centres.
The CMOD review and the wide range of recommendations made in it are being considered in my Department at present. I wish to assure the Deputy that decisions regarding the recommendations contained in the review will be taken following a thorough consideration of all the relevant issues and following full consultation with the ATECI. However, as the content of the report and the recommendations contained therein are still under active consideration in my Department, the question of the possible sale of a centre and related issues do not arise at this time.