SIPTU has called on the Government to reconsider plans to close a nationwide language tuition service for refugees. The union led a march in the capital today to protest at the closure of the Integrate Ireland Language and Training centres.
SIPTU accused the Government of endangering its own integration project and risking the marginalisation of refugees because of its decision to close nine special language centres run by Integrate Ireland.
Staff and students from IILT marched from Liberty Hall to the Department of Education to protest over the proposed closures.
'Essential education was taken away from refugees and non-English speaking migrants, which is absolutely disgraceful,' said Chris Rowlands of SIPTU's Education Branch.
Protests were also due to take place in Castlebar, Galway and Waterford this morning.
The department has said services to refugees and immigrants will not be cut. It says the closures are a positive step, and that services currently provided by Integrate Ireland are simply being mainstreamed within the education system.
'We've been doing this job for a long time. We're extremely dedicated people and we'd like to continue on this service we're providing without any interruption to the learners', said ILLT teacher Stefan Piskorski, whose partner, also a teacher, and he are both losing their jobs.
The department says it is in talks with the Vocational Education Committee with a view to continuing to provide English language tuition services to refugees and asylum seekers.
It says it intends no disruption to language classes. It also says the closure of Integrate Ireland has nothing to do with cutbacks in funding. Integrate Ireland is due to close at the end of next month.
In a statement tonight, the Minister for Integration, Conor Lenihan, said the company itself had approached the Department of Education to withdraw the service.
The company also requested that direct tuition become part of the mainstream education process.
