The Donegal Education Centre will be relocated to Letterkenny, with accessibility cited as a key reason for the decision.
The Management Committee of the Centre has released a statement, where they say this follows an extensive consultation and collaboration with school leaders, teachers and staff.
The Committee states that the move will make the centre more accessible and centrally located for all teachers from Donegal.
They concluding by saying that the decision to relocate was not made lightly, and that it is in the best interests of the broader educational community.
Management Committee statement in full:
The Donegal Education Support Centre (DESC) is relocating to Glenview Business Park in
Letterkenny this spring and has approval from the Department of Education. This move will
make the Centre more accessible and centrally located for teachers from all corners of
Donegal—North, South, East, and West—ensuring equal access for everyone. Accessibility
was a key factor in this decision, and relocating to Letterkenny addresses these concerns,
providing equitable access to training and support services for educators across the county.
As an education support centre for all of Donegal, every teacher deserves an equal
opportunity for professional development, enabling them to deliver the highest quality
education to every child.
The decision was made following extensive consultation and collaboration with school
leaders, teachers and staff. To gather data, surveys were sent out to schools in all parts of
Donegal in February 2025 and there was also consultation with many of our stakeholders,
which took place over a few months. Arising from this, was a strong desire for change.
The move to Letterkenny will significantly enhance DESC’s capacity to deliver high-quality
face-to-face professional training and support for principals, teachers, and special needs
assistants (SNAs). With 178 primary schools, 28 post-primary schools, and two special
schools in Donegal, the relocation positions DESC to better meet the evolving needs of the
educational community while fostering accessibility, deeper engagement, and collaboration
with schools and other educational bodies across the county.
Meetings have been held to provide opportunities for staff to express their views and
concerns. The Management Committee has worked with staff and their representative body,
Fórsa, and as a result staff will be offered a hybrid working arrangement with flexibility that
will balance operational needs with individual circumstances.
The DESC Management Committee is made up of 13 people consisting of Principals,
Deputy Principals, teachers, retired teachers and teachers on support services and they
represent all the municipal districts in Donegal. Contrary to what was said on radio, two
members live in Letterkenny with the remaining members coming from West Donegal,
Inishowen, Milford, the Finn Valley area and Donegal Town. These volunteers have
dedicated their time and effort for many years to ensure that educators across the county
have access to high-quality courses and resources. Their commitment reflects a shared
mission: to support every child in Donegal in receiving the highest standard of
education, regardless of location.
The decision to relocate was not made lightly. While change can be challenging, the
Management Committee firmly believes this move is in the best interests of the broader
educational community. This relocation represents a vital step in fulfilling DESC’s mission to
serve ALL teachers, school leaders, and learners across Donegal, from South Donegal to
Inishowen and from West to East. We are confident that this transition will strengthen
DESC’s ability to support the educational community effectively for years to come.
