Staff representatives at Carlow College have welcomed the outcome of today's meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Higher Education, describing it as an important milestone in the campaign for transparency, accountability and a fairer outcome for staff, students and the wider community.
The hearing exposed significant unanswered questions about how the decision was reached. Committee members heard evidence that staff had continued working towards what they understood would be an integration with SETU, only to discover that the outcome would instead be the closure of the College and the loss of 87 jobs. At the same time, the Department maintained that financial sustainability had always been a key consideration, highlighting a clear disconnect between the expectations created for staff and the eventual outcome.
Staff representatives said the Committee's response demonstrates that concerns raised by staff cannot simply be dismissed.
"Today's hearing marks an important step in our campaign. For the first time, the serious concerns of staff have been examined in a public forum by elected representatives from across the political spectrum. The Committee has recognised that important questions remain unanswered and that these issues deserve further scrutiny."
The staff campaign has consistently argued that this is about far more than one institution, and that the treatment of Carlow College reflects the future direction of higher education in Ireland, and a shift to profit-driven model of education.
A spokesperson for the staff representatives said:
"We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for fair treatment. We believe we can still achieve a better outcome that better serves the community and higher education in the South East, if there is political will.
“Until every reasonable alternative has been explored, we will continue to demand transparency, accountability and honesty from everyone involved."
Staff representatives have confirmed that the campaign will continue to advocate over the coming months to ensure the issues raised before the Committee remain firmly on the national agenda.