2026-06-23

I want to talk about the job losses at Carlow College, St. Patrick's, and the severe impact on students and the regional workforce. The recent announcement of the phased wind-down and closure of Carlow College over a two-year period marks a devastating blow to higher education in Carlow. Initially, staff and students expected that the college would merge under the South East Technology University, SETU, umbrella. I recently visited the campus and spoke directly to those affected by this decision. There is genuine shock and disbelief about the closure. There is an attempt from the Government to play down the reality that there may be 87 staff members facing redundancies with a phased termination process beginning as early as August. This decision has come as a shock to staff who were given absolutely no prior consultation or engagement. There are many questions on this issue. On what date did the Department or SETU formally advise Carlow College's senior management that staff and programmes would not be transferring into SETU? At what point did the Minister notify Carlow College and advise that it engage with staff? Was formal notice given to the Central Applications Office that Carlow College would not be in a position to accept students for the coming academic year? Was an independent valuation conducted on Carlow College's lands and buildings? What were the terms of agreement transferring this multimillion euro asset to SETU? What exactly what the Minister's understanding of the original merger plan? Why did we have a complete pivot on that? Will there be transparency on staff layoffs in August to prevent operational disruption when the semester opens in September? Will there be ring-fenced funding for Carlow College's tailored student supports, which serve an exceptionally diverse and non-traditional student body? Will there be unnecessary duplication of expenditure involved in dismantling an established highly successful infrastructure just to recreate it at SETU? What will happen to those students who are expecting to do a four-year degree and come out with a level 8 qualification who will now only come out with a level 7 and have to do one year less? According to replies at a meeting of the public accounts committee to Deputy Paul Murphy, there is an asset, which is the buildings, and this will be used to look after staff redundancies. What is the worth of this asset? Why can it not be used to integrate, or at least give the choice to integrate, staff into SETU? The Department claims that student welfare is paramount, yet redundancies will be announced in August - a week before the September term begins. I spoke to students who said that because of the nature and smallness of Carlow College, they were given a chance at the college. This closure is being felt by the neurodivergent community. The smaller class sizes and tight knit, friendly, personalised environment meant that many students with additional needs thrived. This small group learning meant that there was a reduction in sensory overload and academic anxiety compared with larger impersonal university settings. Where will these students find a place where they can thrive and flourish? The planned wind-down of Carlow College requires strict adherence to CORU regulations for students in the BA on applied social studies and the professional social care. This means that the degree programme remains fully accredited and recognised for statutory registration as long as the student completes it within a two-year period. Why are students not told of this sooner, so they may choose to not start in the first place? If a student is entering year two in September, this means that they face a very tight timeline because of the wind-down, which has to be done fully by 2028. A standard four-year BA track cannot be completed on the Carlow campus in its current form. What will happen to those students?

I thank the Deputy. As she will be aware, Carlow College is and has always been, a private and autonomous institution operating outside the publicly funded higher education system. Despite this, it has received substantial State support, including over €3.1 million in student fee grants, with an annual uplift of €750,000 in place since 2022. Following repeated requests for additional assistance, an independent review in 2024 identified a deteriorating and ultimately unsustainable financial position. It became clear that without intervention the college was at serious risk of imminent closure, with significant consequences for students, staff and the wider regional education landscape. Through the support of the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and our Department to prevent a disorderly shutdown, SETU agreed in 2025 to engage with Carlow College. An independent mediator was appointed to guide Carlow College through the process. The engagement included extensive analysis and due diligence, culminating in a detailed report delivered to both institutions. The resulting framework is, therefore, a joint proposal arising from sustained and transparent engagement between both parties with Carlow College fully involved throughout and reflecting the preferred option of Carlow College to teach out the existing students and programmes over the next two academic years. Throughout this period, particular attention has been given to the position of staff. The Minister has consistently emphasised the need for clear and proactive communication with employees. This included direct correspondence in December 2025 urging the college's president to prioritise staff engagement in early 2026. In considering the proposed pathway forward, the priority has been to safeguard the interests of the college community while enabling a fair and transparent process for staff. The agreed plan provides for an orderly wind-down of academic activity over a two-year period finishing in August 2028. What has been agreed between the two parties is a structured and phased teach-out designed to minimise disruption to students and staff. The Minister has continued to engage. Most recently yesterday, he met both autonomous institutions and separately a staff delegation from Carlow College with their union. He is acutely aware of the impact of this announcement on Carlow College and its staff and has asked the college to support them through clear engagement in this process. All local representatives from Carlow and Kilkenny were invited to an online briefing last night to discuss these matters. A key element of this framework is the planned acquisition and transfer of the college’s land and buildings to SETU at the end of this period. In return, a significant level of State funding, based on an independent valuation, will be provided to Carlow College. This funding will be committed by Carlow College to support its teach-out and staff redundancy costs. These issues will be managed through established representative structures and trade unions.

I hear that this a private entity and the State could not step in, but the State is about to get a multimillion euro campus for free. That is my understanding of this. That does not seem to be clear in any of these discussions. Does the Minister of State even know the cost of this campus? She said there was clear talking with the staff yet conditions were laid down regarding this campus that are not being met. One of the conditions was that staff would be integrated with SETU. That does not seem to be happening. Staff were shocked to discover this, so there was no clear conversation with staff. Losing this campus will affect many students in the future who depend on a small personal environment - a place that they feel they belong and a place for them to flourish. Facility and support staff will return in September with zero clarity regarding their exact workloads, module allocations or scheduling. The sudden exit of specialist experts right at the start of an academic year ensures immediate systemic disruption to lecturing, dissertations, supervision and placement mentoring. Carlow College serves a unique, non-traditional student demographic that the university sector regularly fails to reach. In the social care cohort, over 80% are non-leaving certificate students. I was one these in a different college, Limerick College of Further Education. I was given a second chance through that college. Carlow College has tailored supports that face the acts. Students have succeeded because of the college's hyper-tailored specialised support staff. Redundancies targeting support personnel will directly trigger high drop-out rates among students with disabilities and those from marginalised backgrounds. The Psychological Society of Ireland and the Irish Association of Social Workers have repeatedly declared a crisis due to critical backlogs in health, education and mental healthcare. Winding down these specific programmes directly starves the south-east region of professionally trained graduates. It will worsen unacceptably long waiting times for vital mental and educational care for vulnerable service users.

I thank the Deputy. I believe the framework agreed by the two institutions is a prudent and measured approach that protects the educational attainment and interests of students in the region. Every current learner in Carlow College will be able to complete their studies and graduate as planned without disruption or disadvantage. That commitment of continuity and fairness has guided every step of the process. At the same time, the framework provides the autonomy and responsibilities of Carlow College as a private institution and employer with a long history. Government has every confidence the formal discussions commenced by Carlow College with its staff and staff reps will be carried out in a transparent and forthright manner. Of course we are concerned about the staff. Our thoughts are with all of them as they deal with the news of the closure of the college and the loss of their employment. Through future expansion and development of programmes in areas of demand, regionally and nationally, there will be opportunities for the highly qualified and experienced staff of the college to apply for job opportunities but, it is important to say, through open competition. The Deputy mentioned social care. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, and his Department are running a new expression of interest across disability therapies and social care to expand provision nationally. In terms of opportunities for the enhancement of higher education in the Carlow region, the planned transfer of the campus to SETU creates a strong foundation for continued investment in Carlow, ensuring this historic site remains a vibrant hub of learning and opportunity. Under SETU's leadership, there is a clear pathway to strengthen provision, expand access and support regional development. SETU will preserve the use of the site for educational purposes.