THE COMPANY behind Ashfield College in Templeogue, Dublin, has refused to comment on the issuing of redundancy notices to several staff members in recent weeks.
Ashfield College was founded in 1977, and has become one of the best known so-called “grind schools” in Dublin.
Five teachers and administration staff were given statutory redundancy notice at the private school which provides the Leaving Cert programme, grinds and adult education courses.
The redundancies took effect from Monday, June 1st.
The school employs 35 people and is not represented by teachers’ unions due to the private nature of the college. Many of the teachers are part-time and also work elsewhere.
The redundancy notices have not affected students as the fifth-year classes are on holidays and Leaving Cert exams are under way.
In the formal notice of redundancy seen by The Irish Times, the college's managing director says a downturn in work for the college "has meant significant financial consequences for the organisation". It continues: "Unfortunately, it has not proved possible to find any solution to the problem other than to make compulsory redundancies."
Managing director Giles Kilcoyne said he could not comment on the matter as he was not a company director and was not mandated to answer questions.
The Company Registrations Office lists the directors of Ashfield College Ltd as Dawn Maye, Graham Byrne, Maria McMenamin and Ian Redmond.
Media queries to the college were forwarded to Mr Redmond, but neither he nor the company secretary returned calls from The Irish Timeson the matter.
A teacher at the school who did not wish to be named said staff and the parents of fifth-year students were now in a limbo situation. They had failed to get assurances that the school would reopen in September.
According to the college’s website, fees for the 2008/2009 academic year were €6,950 per year for students taking seven subjects in the Leaving Cert.