Education Department slammed over cover-up

Information Commissioner Emily O’Reilly has reportedly criticised the Department of Education for trying to suppress documents about the planned closure of a teacher training college in Dublin.

Reports this morning said the documents revealed that Education Minister Noel Dempsey ignored a consultant’s report and the advice of his own senior officials, who both recommended that St Catherine’s College of Home Economics be kept open.

The documents were requested by the president of St Catherine’s, but the Department of Education refused to release them and also rejected an appeal.

Ms O’Reilly, however, has ordered that the papers be released.