THE DEPARTMENT of Education has said it will "immediately" take over teaching services to almost 1,000 refugees and their families when the current provider withdraws from direct provision at the end of July. The funding for such a service will remain in place.
Integrate Ireland Language and Training (IILT) has been providing language classes in nine centres since 2000. In 2007, some 906 adults attended classes. It all offers material through its website to teachers and tutors.
However, its funding for direct tuition has been withdrawn by the Department of Education, at IILT's own request, according to the department.
Siptu officials representing workers said that some 44 highly specialised employees, including teaching staff, are now at risk of losing their jobs when the service is withdrawn on July 31th.
What is required is much more than English-language course," Siptu branch organiser Chris Rowland said yesterday. "The IILT provided language and integration services but also dealt with a wide range of other issues affecting refugees."
There have been several protests at various centres where services will be withdrawn. One was held in Galway yesterday and another is due to be held in Castlebar today. The other centres where IILT operated were Balbriggan, Ballina, Dublin, Kilkenny, Mullingar, Sligo and Waterford.
The planned withdrawal of services was also raised in the Dáil yesterday by the Labour Party's spokesman on foreign affairs, Michael D Higgins.
The principal teacher of the Castlebar centre, Dara Brophy, yesterday said that students who were deeply traumatised by war and years in refugee camps would be left without support. "This will multiply their risk of social isolation and marginalisation."
However, in a statement last night, the Department of Education moved to reassure that there would be a continuity of service. It said that the current debate stemmed from a positive decision to put the service on a "sustainable long-term footing".
The department said that the Irish Vocational Education Association was happy to cooperate in "mainstreaming" the provision of the service through VEC schools.
A further advantage was that the VECs have a nationwide network which can provide classes across the country.
The department added that once the IILT service finishes, the "mainstreaming" of tuition will begin immediately.
"Funding is therefore being redirected to this end," concluded the statement.
