Fears for future of mayo education hq

THE headquarters of the Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education and Training Board, located at Newtown in Castlebar, will close by Christmas if additional staff are not appointed soon.

That’s the stark warning of the outgoing chief executive officer of the authority, former GAA president Joe McDonagh.

Mr. McDonagh told his final board meeting that staffing levels to carry out the work across the extended area is critical.

He explained that the neighbouring ETB of Galway Roscommon has 35 more staff and called on the Department of Education to address the situation urgently.

Shane Purcell has been appointed as Mr. McDonagh's replacement.