Councillors will resist any attempt to downgrade GMIT's Mayo campus

ANY move to downgrade the GMIT campus in Castlebar will be strongly resisted.

That was the message from a meeting of Mayo County Council today where the ending of the business course at the campus, as reported last week, was debated.

One councillor, Al McDonnell, vowed that as soon as the virus disappears 'we will be on the streets again, as we did before'.

The county, he said, could not afford the loss of the campus or for it to be downgraded.

Ballina-based Councillor Mark Duffy raised the issue, saying the announcement was not a surprise to him, claiming there has 'always been an anti-Mayo rhetoric in GMIT'.

They needed an opportunity now for young people at a time when people are moving away from studying in the cities, he said.

His proposal that a special meeting of the council be held on the matter was agreed.

Councillor McDonnell made the point that of five councillors on the board of GMIT, none were from Mayo.

He proposed the council's chief executive write the 'strongest possible letter' to the authority regarding what they proposed.

Councillor Damien Ryan further suggested they write to the board to suggest that at least the cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council and the chief executive should sit on the GMIT board.

“Any attempt to downgrade will be resisted,” he added.

Interim chief executive Peter Duggan said he shared the councillors' concerns.

The campus was an important asset to the county and whatever support they could lend to it, they will, he said.

Last week's story on business course closing and response by GMIT here: https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2020/10/07/appalled-at-decision-to-close-gmit-mayo-business-department/