Staff at a centre which provides language and integration services for adults and pupils at primary and post-primary schools were told today it was to close at the end of July with the loss of 42 jobs.
Around 200 students, who were at the centre’s headquarters in Ballsbridge when staff were informed that the Department of Education was cutting its funding for Integrate Ireland Language and Training (IILT), were told to go home.
In a statement issued today, Siptu’s Education Branch organiser Ms Chris Rowland called on the Minister for Education to restore funding to IILT, describing the situation as “deplorable”
Ms Rowland said IILT provided language and integration services to around 5,000 schools in the State, providing support for teachers who work with non-English speaking students. She said that two new employees had been hired as part of a recent recruitment drive.
Ms Rowland said the first that staff knew of the cut in funding was when they were called together this morning and given a copy of a statement informing them of the situation. She described the mood at the centre as one of total shock.
As well as its out-reach services for schools, the IILT also provides English language teaching for adults and support to English language training provided for adult asylum seekers by the VEC and other agencies.
It was announced last year that the IILT was to move its headquarters to Greendale Community School following negoiations between Independent TD Finian McGrath and the then taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.
Ms Rowland said the cutback was “outrageous” in light of the Language Policy Campaign announced last year by the Minister of State for Integration Conor Lenihan, to help adult immigrants learn English.
A consortium of international consultants were appointed to conduct a review of existing provision and to make recommendations on policy development. However, Ms Rowland said this report was overdue.
She said Siptu was seeking an urgent meeting with the Department of Education to have funding restored and services maintained.