St Joseph’s Training Centre to close in 2012

ST Joseph’s Training Centre in Ennis, which provides courses for members of the Travelling and settled community, is facing closure.

There are 120 people using the centre including 37 full-time places for two Leaving Certificate Applied groups and three FETAC programmes. There are also two Youthreach groups completing hair and beauty while a labour activation group use the centre for engineering and woodwork.
The centre, which hasn’t enrolled any new participants since January, is due to close in June 2012 as part of national Government cutbacks, despite being described by new director, Brian Crossan as one of the most progressive training centres in the country.
Mr Crossan hopes the centre will be given the go-ahead to re-open as a skills centre for everyone in the community, having built up a range of expertise across a number of vocational disciplines over the last 30 years.
Mr Crossan expressed concern about the withdrawal of funding for a visiting teacher to help Traveller children in education. He also acknowledged the retention of Traveller students in secondary schools in Clare is still poor, despite huge input.
While Traveller students are staying longer in second-level schools, only one Traveller teenager in Clare completed the Leaving Certificate last year. However, he warned that withdrawing education supports and other initiatives to help Travellers integrate into society is a retrograde step.
“Education is the key for any member of society. If you educate someone, you will help integrate them into society. Integration needs resources, it can’t be imposed.
“Reducing places in Traveller training centres without making new places available will inhibit Travellers from having a second chance in education. I believe that supporting adult Travellers in second-chance education has a positive impact on the behaviour of the next generation of Traveller children in secondary schools,” he said.
“Research has proven students attending St Joseph’s stay longer and achieve more in secondary schools. It has to be looked on a inter-generation basis, Travellers need role models to help future engagement in education,” he said.
Traveller enterprise and employment officer, Michael Flanagan said 10 Travellers secured employment with businesses, while two Travellers set up enterprises as market traders.
Mr Flanagan confirmed the specialised pilot programme helping Travellers to get jobs or become self-employed is coming to an end.
He explained a decision had been taken to get an agency like FÁS to help Travellers get employment while Travellers who wanted to set up a new business would be directed to the County Enterprise Board. The Government still hasn’t decided what agency is best suited to help Travellers get jobs.