Council rejects centre closures

Council rejects centre closures

21 December 2016

THE closure of several outdoor education centres in the Lecale and Mourne area would have an “extremely negative” impact on the area, according the a new report.

In an official response to the Education Authority, Newry, Mourne and Down Council has asked it to reconsider the plans put out for consultation last month.

Ardnabannon in Castlewellan and Delamont Outdoor Education in Killyleagh, along with Killowen in Rostrevor and a centre in Bushmills would close within months under the new proposals.

The future of Killyleagh Outdoor Education Centre is also uncertain with a possible move to self catering facilities.

In its response, approved by the council’s Active and Healthy Communities committee on Monday, the council said such closures would have a “significant impact” within the local economy. 

It also said that residential and outdoor education can, and should, “play a huge part in developing young people into more rounded individuals”.

“EANI [the Education Authority] should provide incentives for school and youth groups to avail of these resources, either through providing a ring fenced budgetary allocation or by positively promoting the centres within each locality to local schools, youth groups and community organisations, with a particular emphasis on the benefits that residential and outdoor education centres can play in the development of young people.

“There is a higher than average youth population in the district and the increase in demand for related services has largely been ignored.”

The response concluded: “In summary, the council values these facilities within our district and believe our location, natural environment and growing young population should ensure that these centres are not only maintained, but also further developed. 

“The Council believes the Education Authority should reverse the plan to close these facilities noting that the majority of which rest within our council area. This would have an extremely negative impact on our area and ask that the Education Authority reconsider their plan.”

Councillor Billy Walker backed the response but added he wanted to put in another request to meet the Education Minister.

He said that while they were due to meet senior education officials in January, it was “not good enough”.

“I want us to seek an urgent meeting with the Minister,” he said.

Councillor Walker said he was “very, very concerned” in relation to Delamont’s future and worried that a transfer to self catering would mark the “beginning of the end” at Killyleagh Outdoor Education Centre.

Councillor John Trainor said he wanted the response to point out that the Education Authority had been originally due to review its statutory estate, not just Outdoor Education Centres.

“This is a half review,” he said. “We should be reviewing the full statutory estate and outdoor education centres.”