A delegation from Carlow is set to head to Dublin for direct talks with the Minister for Higher Education following last night’s emergency public meeting about the closure of Carlow College.
Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming confirmed to the meeting that Minister James Lawless has agreed to a face-to-face sit-down to discuss the future of the 87 staff members facing redundancy.
The meeting was told that while South East Technological University is confirmed to take over the land and buildings for educational use, absolutely nothing has been finalised regarding the formal transfer or protection of the current workforce.
Lecturers, students, and political figures are demanding a guaranteed “safe passage” pathway for staff into SETU, warning that Carlow cannot afford the massive economic and educational blow of losing unique local specialist courses.
A public rally has now been scheduled to take place directly on the Carlow College grounds tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon to show solidarity with the staff and the 600 students affected.
Local Councillor Adrienne Wallace says closing the college has a huge knock-on effect locally.
“So 87 and this is the reality of the situation, 87 staff members will lose their jobs and they will have to take redundancy as it currently stands. And not only that, but Carlow loses 600 student population. And like, that’s going to have wider impacts to our wider culture, shops or pubs or restaurants. So there’s a fight here and I think people are willing to galvanize the community to come up for it and really to see.” said Councillor Wallace.
Laois Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming says although the college and lands are being given to SETU and there is no amalgamation, they cannot just do what they like with it.
“But at least they can’t pawn off the site or 10 acres if they want money to build a laboratory out the Kilkenny Road, which is good and you know, purposes like that, because it would be a temptation and sorry, that also applied to the, to the diocese. They can’t sell off any of this land either themselves before this deal is completed. And SETU, who come in at the minister’s insistence, won’t be able to sell it off either for their own development purposes within the Kilkenny Road”. said Deputy Fleming.
