Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 3

Written Answers - Education Centre Network.

Willie Penrose

Question:

158 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science the basis upon which a proposal to close Sligo Education Centre has been put forward; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that north-west ADHD avails of the excellent services that the centre and the staff provide; in this context, the provisions which will be put in place in the education system to provide for the essential needs and requirements of sufferers of ADHD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9289/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

Sligo Education Centre is not scheduled for closure. However, a report has been presented to my Department by the Centre for Management Organisation and Development, CMOD, of the Department of Finance who recently undertook a review of the education centre network. This report contains a wide range of recommendations, including the closure of three full-time centres – Kildare, Kilkenny, and Sligo – and 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 and 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 Association of Teachers-Education Centres in Ireland, ATECI. In this regard, an invitation has been extended to ATECI to get the consultation process under way at an early date.