TD shows support for Callan centre’s education courses

Local support has continued to grow for a community centre education programme that has recently lost its funding.
Droichead Family Resource Centre, in Callan, was recently informed that all funding for its Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) courses was being withdrawn.

This came as a great shock to the centre, which has been hosting courses thanks to BTEI funding for 18 years.

Over those years courses took place in subjects including childcare, healthcare, computers, care of the elderly, ID physical activities and English as a second language. There were eight to 15 people in each of the classes.

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Carmel Egan, a Family Support Worker at Droichead FRC, told The Kilkenny People that the centre was informed the funding has been withdrawn for at least two years but that there is no guarantee it will be restored.

“Adult educational opportunities are already limited in rural areas. This move is very frustrating for existing learners who are primarily from disadvantaged and marginalised groups and unnecessarily causing more barriers to completing and advancing their studies, by removing access to education in their community.

“Many of the learners only returned to education as it was based in Callan. This in turn will have a significant impact in terms of outcomes for children and families in our community and will lead to long term literacy struggles,” Ms Egan explained.

In the wake of the announcement there was support for the centre from local politicians.

The latest of these shows of support came last Friday, when local TD Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere visited Droiched FRC and met some of the staff and board members there.

He echoed the words of his constituency colleagues and former county council colleagues when he said the community education hub was important for Callan and the people of all the surrounding parishes.

Local councillor Joe Lyons recently brought the matter to the attention of the offices of Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister for Education, Helen McEntee, in the hope that funding will be restored.

Cllr Stephanie Doheny and MEP Kathleen Funchion have are also supporting the centre.

Funding under BTEI is administered by Kilkenny Carlow Education and Training Board which says it continues to liaise with SOLAS, the state body that oversees the further education and training sector, regarding funding and ‘welcomes the resumption of services as funding becomes available’.