A LONG-RUNNING
Northside training centre that helped hundreds of Travellers to continue their
education over the last 20 years is the latest victim of Government cutbacks.
Cara Park
Education and Training Centre in Coolock shut its doors at the end of October,
leaving a group of Traveller women in the middle of unfinished courses.
Local Traveller
representatives say that while the centre had been scheduled to finish up next
July, this abrupt closure has come as a major disappointment.
Notice
Paddy McDonagh,
a development worker with Traveller support group TravAct and a resident of
Cara Park, claimed that up to 20 women attending the course were only given a
few weeks’ notice of the closure.
“We knew and
accepted that the training centre was closing, and all 28 VEC centres around
the country were due to finish up next July at the end of the academic year,
?
Mr McDonagh told 1
“But they
pulled the plug during mid-term break, not even halfway through the course. The
women are very upset.
?
Between 15 and
20 Traveller women from the Coolock and Finglas areas had signed up with the
VEC to complete year long courses at Cara Park across a range of areas
including computing, literacy, numeracy, cookery, music and childcare. They
were also allocated a small weekly training allowance by the VEC.
Participants
have been offered the possibility of transferring their course to a VEC
training centre in Tallaght, but none of them are going for this option.
Mary Doheny,
director of TravAct, said it’s just not practical or possible for these women
to take two buses to Tallaght and back every morning.
?
“Most of them
have small children and would not have time to drop and pick up their kids from
school,
? Ms Doheny told Northside People.
“My preference
was that the group that enrolled in September would have been allowed to finish
their course as planned before the training centre was closed next year.
Transferred
“In the absence
of that, the courses could have been transferred to a local VEC closer to home,
like Coláiste Dhulaigh, for example.
?
About 40
Traveller families have lived in a group-housing scheme at Cara Park for over
20 years. Local representatives say one of the reasons for the good
relationship between Travellers and the settled community was the education
that was provided at the training centre.
Mr McDonagh said a
high number of Travellers drop out of school early, and Cara Park Education and
Training Centre gave them the opportunity to complete their education in a
supportive environment.
“There is a lot of
integration between Travellers and settled kids in the area, but the effect of
these cutbacks will start to kick in now,
? he stated.
“We feel that
we’re the latest disadvantaged category, like people with a disability, to get
hit the hardest by cutbacks.
“By taking away
facilities like Cara Park Education and Training Centre, and extra resource and
visiting teachers, it’s putting the Traveller community back 10 years.
?
A spokeswoman for
the VEC said the decision to close the Cara Park centre was part of a
Government directive to phase out and close all Senior Traveller Training
Centres by July 2012.
“To ensure that
all the Travellers enrolled at Cara Park complete their programmes and FETAC
certification as appropriate, County Dublin VEC is making provision for them at
alternative Centres of Education,
? she told Northside People.
“In addition, the
timing of the provision will be flexible to enable all the students to meet
their current childminding obligations; transport is being made available to
the learners where feasible.
“All of the
programmes will be delivered by County Dublin VEC qualified staff who have
considerable experience working within Traveller education and also in
delivering FETAC accredited programmes.
?
The spokeswoman
added:
“In addition, should any of the current students wish to progress onto
further education or training opportunities, County Dublin VEC Adult Guidance
Service will be made available to them to guide them in the most appropriate
direction.
?
A spokeswoman for
the Department of Education and Skills said that as part of Budget 2011, it was
decided to implement integrated further education for Travellers by phasing out
the centres by June 2012 and make replacement places in the part-time Back To
Education Initiative (BTEI) available.
“It’s a decision
for the VEC to administer its centres in line with the budget decision,
? she
stated.
Artane Whitehall
ward councillor Larry O’Toole (SF) said he was very concerned about the impact
of the centre’s closure.
“I know the very
valuable contribution the work of this centre has made to the Travellers and to
the wider community,
? stated Cllr O’Toole.