People Before Profit councillor Adrienne Wallace has called the closure of Carlow College a devastating blow to local workers and the wider community. Cllr Wallace, a graduate of Carlow College, has blasted the idea that the 87 jobs lost is a “good news story” as claimed by Deputy Jennifer Murnane-O’Connor in a recent interview on KCLR.
She said “Carlow College is the second oldest educational institute in the country. It has long been a hub of community activity and has been a wonderful environment for students to learn. The reality is that this is a merger only in name. The bricks and mortar of Carlow College will remain but the heart and spirit has been stripped away with the loss of these jobs and the ethos it teaches students. The claim that the college will remain in ‘educational use’ is particularly vague and we need more detailed information on what this entails.”
Cllr Wallace continued “This is also a worker’s rights issue as staff were told they would have to take redundancy. At the very least they should each have a choice to opt-in for either redeployment or redundancy. More clarity is also needed on what type of redundancy package will be offered. Workers have been left blind-sided and it is imperative that they are given this essential information in a timely manner. This change will also have a negative impact on the student body who feel like their future is left in limbo.”
Cllr Wallace concluded “In many ways this feels like history is repeating itself. It was also Fianna Fáil, who ironically, recently celebrated their 100-year centaury in Carlow College, that also closed the Sugar Factory which was another important pillar of Carlow. She added “The community and the workers need to organize. The College is a beloved place for many and is worth fighting for.”