Five jobs to go at B’boro Community Training

Paul Neilan

The Anglo-Celt understands that five people will lose their jobs in Bailieborough, after vital government funding was axed late last year.
In December, staff at Bailieborough Community Training were informed of Pobal’s decision to discontinue the funding of the facility. Funding was then extended to June 30 of this year, though, to allow for the orderly wind up of the company.
However, on Friday, (March 7), staff at the community training facility on the Shercock Road were told at a board meeting that the centre would actually close at the end of next month on Wednesday, April 30, with the loss of all five jobs. Staff were informed that the irreversible “bombshell” decision had been made by the board and agreed on by the funders, Pobal.
The Celt understands that staff have begun the process of informing those who have booked their places on upcoming courses that those are now cancelled and refunds are being issued.

'Crying shame’
One student, Suella Holland, expressed her disappointment at the closure of the facility, saying it was a “crying shame”.
“Losing a facility as useful as Bailieborough Community Training is just ridiculous. It’s a valuable, educational community resource which I have attended for various different courses for both myself and my children since I moved to Bailieborough five years ago. I think it’s a crying shame that more isn’t being done to prevent this closure. Not only will there be jobs lost unnecessarily, there will now be nowhere else in the local area for me to continue my photography courses, for my children to take part in various workshops and computer-internet safety classes among others.”
Sector Organiser at Siptu Eddie Mullins said: “The decision comes as a bombshell to staff who over the last 14 years have helped build the services offered by the centre. Staff believe that this centre could be saved and could operate successfully if it was allowed to advertise. There is now concern that courses including computer, photography and ECDL, already begun may not be allowed finish and others committed to will not be allowed start.”