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THE HEAD OF Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) says there are no plans to downgrade or close the Mayo campus in Castlebar – despite claims by Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan.
The MEP yesterday released a statement claiming that the campus had been downgraded without consultation or transparency.
“Members of the staff at GMIT Mayo have contacted me and have outlined the steps already taken to this end. Run the place down and then tell all concerned that the place is so run down that it’s not viable. We’ve seen this routine before,” he said.
Flanagan claimed that Education Minister Richard Bruton wanted to oversee the eventual closure of the campus.
The civil servants in the Department of Education have some notion that one campus must be more efficient than two. How simplistic. How sad. How backward. Have they accounted for the loss of time due to the nightmare of Galway’s traffic? Have they accounted for the higher rents that students and their parents will have to pay? Have they accounted for the urbanisation of Galway and the depopulation of our countryside that will result from this decision?
However, the President of GMIT Dr Fergal Barry told TheJournal.ie that Flanagan’s beliefs were not true.
“There has been no decision to downgrade the Mayo campus.
“In fact, we’re investing in the campus and have applied for capital funding through the Department of Education and through the Department of Sport for a new rugby pitch in conjunction with Connacht Rugby.
Like all institutions, we do discontinue courses. We have to deploy our resources responsibly. But we have introduced two new courses – early childhood care and applied social studies. The student numbers are going to grow but there are programmes that aren’t viable.
“But a working group will examine the future viability of the campus that could lead to ring fenced funding.
There is no intention to close the Mayo campus. The Mayo campus hasn’t been downgraded.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said:
“The Minister on a recent visit to GMIT committed to the future of a vibrant Mayo campus. On that visit the Minister announced the establishment of a working group which will formulate a plan for a sustainable future of the GMIT Mayo Campus in Castlebar. The Working Group will be required to present a full report to the HEA’s Finance Committee in Q3 2017.
The President of GMIT has reaffirmed the commitment of the Institute to finding a viable development plan for the Mayo Campus and has appointed Michael Gill as Interim Head of the Campus to lead these efforts. This will include the further development of the Mayo Campus as a Centre of Excellence in Health Sciences.
“The Mayo Campus has a very important role to play in delivering economic growth and driving regional development.”
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“No plans” ….. must be true so.
Rarely smoke without fire, Ming is spot on about the logjam known as Galway city, the insane rent if one can get a gaff and the de-population of Rural Ireland. keep a beady eye on them.
@Rodger 5: It’s a bloody nightmare to sort student accommodation in Galway, on both nuig and gmit sides
Know more in 6 months. Leaked , downgraded and inevitable closure. As Ming says , seen the routine umteen times before …. It’s the FG way…
There is an active campaign to destroy the facility by spreading doubt, scaring off potential students, cancelling courses and convincing staff and students to relocate to Galway. All to justify FG’s eventual closure of the campus. The college has done so much for Castlebar and Enda Kenny should be ashamed.
Bet mayo people are delighted one of their own is taoiseach. Seriously though are fine gael planning on moving the entire population to the east
bit like wexfod “campus” from Carlow IT so
Good Transgender man Ming of the new EU royalty with a spliff and a nice desk in Brussells This man Flanagan has been convicted on several occasions of possession of cannabis for personal use. Flanagan served nine days of a 15-day sentence in 1998 in Loughan House open prison in County Cavan, for refusing to pay a fine imposed for breach of the Litter Pollution Act. Have a glass of Vino with Junkers and be careful of a real politician like the Bogeywoman Mrs Teresa May. LUKE ‘Ming’ Flanagan, the independent TD, had penalty points wiped or “invalidated” from his record by gardai, despite later slamming members of the force for doing it for others, the Sunday Independent reveaked. Less of the ganga talk Ming and sit quietly at your desk and remember no smoking in the office those europeans who fine people don’t do the culture of invalidating.
Well said Sharon,
GMIT Mayo campus currently offers degree programmes in Technology,
Business, Outdoor Education and Health Sciences….experienced professionals have supported higher level options in this campus for over 21 years. It is a vibrant place of learning.
It is open for student intake in September 2017. Further depletion of options at Mayo would be detrimental to the economic development of the region.
GMIT Mayo Campus has a lovely community of staff and students. Rents in Castlebar are low. Students get a high quality education and aren’t crammed into lecture halls with 150+ other people. We need public support to ensure it continues to provide a range of courses. So many of our students don’t have the finances to go to big cities like Galway/Limerick or Dublin. Many more simply don’t want to go to cities.
Dear Sir,
As a former student and currently the Green Campus Intern at GMIT Mayo. I find the current situation with the Mayo Campus unfathomable.
Firstly I would like to clarify that GMIT Mayo is not one of two campuses as stated my MEP Flanagan but one of the five.
Galway (Main)
Galway Centre for Creative Arts & Media (CCAM)
The National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design and Technology Letterfrack
Mayo
Mountbellew
Secondly, Dr Barry said. “We have introduced two new courses, early childhood care and applied social studies”.
The early childhood care course is new, however “Applied Social Care” which is the correct course title has been here for 10 years and I know many of the graduates, as I graduated alongside them.
I cannot understand the rationale behind the process that is being undertaken at the institute. This narcissistic management style can only have a damaging affect upon the staff and student morale of a fantastic campus and institute.
GMIT Mayo is a flag ship campus. It was the first IOT in Ireland to be awarded a Green Flag by An Taisce’s and has received national recognition for Swift conservation; furthermore last year a unique living Willow classroom was constructed on campus grounds.
This year students and staff volunteered to build an outdoor play area at Syrian refugee centre in Ballaghaderreen and are in the process of assisting transition year students at St Joseph’s secondary school Castlebar to construct their own outdoor classroom.
It is now time for the powers that be to put a stop to this shameful, unnecessary and damaging process.
Dear Sir,
As a former student and currently the Green Campus Intern at GMIT Mayo. I find the current situation with the Mayo Campus unfathomable.
Firstly I would like to clarify that GMIT Mayo is not one of two campuses as stated my MEP Flanagan but one of the five.
Galway (Main)
Galway Centre for Creative Arts & Media (CCAM)
The National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design and Technology Letterfrack
Mayo
Mountbellew
Secondly, Dr Barry said. “We have introduced two new courses, early childhood care and applied social studies”.
The early childhood care course is new, however “Applied Social Care” which is the correct course title has been here for 10 years and I know many of the graduates, as I graduated alongside them.
I cannot understand the rationale behind the process that is being undertaken at the institute. This narcissistic management style can only have a damaging affect upon the staff and student morale of a fantastic campus and institute.
GMIT Mayo is a flag ship campus. It was the first IOT in Ireland to be awarded a Green Flag by An Taisce’s and has received national recognition for Swift conservation; furthermore last year a unique living Willow classroom was constructed on campus grounds.
This year students and staff volunteered to build an outdoor play area at Syrian refugee centre in Ballaghaderreen and are in the process of assisting transition year students at St Joseph’s secondary school Castlebar to construct their own outdoor classroom.
It is now time for the powers that be to put a stop to this shameful, unnecessary and damaging process.
Dear Sir,
As a former student and currently the Green Campus Intern at GMIT Mayo. I find the current situation with the Mayo Campus unfathomable.
Firstly I would like to clarify that GMIT Mayo is not one of two campuses as stated my MEP Flanagan but one of the five.
Galway (Main)
Galway Centre for Creative Arts & Media (CCAM)
The National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design and Technology Letterfrack
Mayo
Mountbellew
Secondly, Dr Barry said. “We have introduced two new courses, early childhood care and applied social studies”.
The early childhood care course is new, however “Applied Social Care” which is the correct course title has been here for 10 years and I know many of the graduates, as I graduated alongside them.
I cannot understand the rationale behind the process that is being undertaken at the institute. This narcissistic management style can only have a damaging affect upon the staff and student morale of a fantastic campus and institute.
GMIT Mayo is a flag ship campus. It was the first IOT in Ireland to be awarded a Green Flag by An Taisce’s and has received national recognition for Swift conservation; furthermore last year a unique living Willow classroom was constructed on campus grounds.
This year students and staff volunteered to build an outdoor play area at Syrian refugee centre in Ballaghaderreen and are in the process of assisting transition year students at St Joseph’s secondary school Castlebar to construct their own outdoor classroom.
It is now time for the powers that be to put a stop to this shameful, unnecessary and damaging process.
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