All-Irish teacher training centre in limbo

EDUCATION Minister Mary Hanafin has not yet decided whether government plans announced eight years ago for a €1.9 million all-Irish teacher training centre in Co Cork are to go ahead.

The centre was first touted by Micheál Martin in 1999 as a support service for all teachers on the teaching of Irish and for those working in Gaelscoils and Gaeltacht schools.

Almost €400,000 has already been spent by the Department of Education on the initial planning and design stages of the project, which was due to commence in Ballyvourney the following June.