Newpark School of Music closure
Deputy Boyd Barrett warned that 40 workers at Newpark School of Music had been told the school would close with a week’s notice and asked for intervention. The Taoiseach said he would ask relevant Ministers and agencies to examine the matter before the topical issue debate.
Last week, 40 workers in the Newpark School of Music received the shock announcement that the school, which has 600 students and has been located on Newpark school grounds for 40 years, was to shut down with a week's notice. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving us an opportunity for a Topical Issue debate on this tomorrow, but I want to flag this issue now because these workers' jobs are gone. This cuts across Departments. At a workers' right level this is Debenhams Mark II. It would seem to me to be a flagrant breach of liquidation rules, so it needs intervention at that departmental level. It also requires the involvement of the Departments of Education and Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. It is a non fee-paying school and a not-for-profit charity on the grounds of Newpark. It does outreach and provides music teaching. It is self-financing and it is now gone. I want to flag this issue. Some of those affected by this will probably be here for the debate tomorrow.
I want urgent intervention on this because it just makes no sense that this should happen. I am asking for urgent intervention.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of Newpark School of Music. I am pleased that there will be time in the Dáil for a topical issue debate on it tomorrow. The Deputy has been constructive in flagging it with me today and I will certainly ask, in advance of that debate, relevant line Ministers and agencies to see what role the State may have in this, in order to be able to give the Deputy a comprehensive answer then.