GMIT working group to meet students and staff at Castlebar campus later this month- Burke

Fine Gael Senator, Paddy Burke, has said the GMIT working group will meet with students and staff at the Castlebar campus later this month.
Senator Burke also said Fianna Fáil is using GMIT as a political football with concoctions of a programme with Connaught Rugby.
Senator Burke said: “The Taoiseach and Education Minister Richard Bruton established a working group in March to formulate a plan and a pathway for a sustainable future of the GMIT Mayo Campus in Castlebar.
“This working group will be visiting Castlebar on May 15th and will meet with staff and students.
“A schedule of meetings will be set out for over the summer. The working group will then report back to the Higher Education Authority in September.
“I am calling for further representation from the Castlebar campus to be put on the working group to ensure their voices and concerns are heard.”
Senator Burke said misinformation of a collaboration between GMIT and Connaught Rugby was untrue and potentially damaging to the campus.
He said: “Fianna Fáil is using GMIT as a political football with concoctions of a programme with Connaught Rugby.
“This is completely untrue and no such programme is in place. This type of posturing can cause serious damage to GMIT’S Mayo campus.”
He added: “With regard to GMIT and the Mayo campus, this college is critical for rolling out vital third-level courses in our region.
“The Government is fully committed to the future of the Castlebar campus. We all need to promote Mayo as a great place to receive a third-level education.
“It is most important to acknowledge the excellent and successful ongoing courses which already exist on the Mayo Campus and the hardworking staff delivering them.”

ENDS