IT Centre closure is a ‘tremendous loss to the community’
By Maurice Garvey
THE impending closure of Ballyfermot IT Centre was announced this week due to changes in the funding model to secure contracts to deliver training.
News of the closure represents a blow to the community as the centre identified education and ICT skills as a key inhibitor for economic development in the Ballyfermot area.
Courses at the centre acted as a pathway to employment for participants, particularly the successful Women’s Way to Work programme.
The Le Fanu Road premises provided accessible IT training since 1999 under the Ballyfermot-Chapelizod Partnership’s action plan for jobs.
The centre employed six people, and was funded through a national scheme managed by the Department of Social Protection.
In an email to stakeholders, Partnership Manager Ciaran Reid said the closure is a “tremendous loss to the community” – citing a “fall-off in referrals from employment schemes, along with the emergence of Solas training and Pathways to Work schemes.”
“This left the Partnership with no choice but to close down the centre,” said Mr Reid.
He continued: “It is with regret that the Ballyfermot IT centre will be closing. Ballyfermot IT has been at the centre of quality computer training at a local level since its establishment in 1999.
“Over the intervening years the IT centre broadened it reach, delivering Women’s Way to Work, Equality for Women Measure, FIT, FÁS external training, JEB, ECDL, Momentum and Benefit 4 programmes.
“The centre and its hardworking staff team always ensured that each trainee it worked with received the highest quality personal service and, very importantly, a recognised training certificate at the end.”
Centre Manager Dolores James said: “It is with great regret that the Ballyfermot IT Centre will cease trading on February 13.
“We will not be available to accept any further bookings of courses for 2016.”
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