Schools centralised purchasing threatens local shops

THE  Department of Education and Science’s (DES) promotion of centralised bulk buying of school supplies such as stationery, office and cleaning supplies, even heating oil in some instances, is hitting local shops and in some instances is a contributory factor in businesses having to close according to members of the Galway-Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB).
At the monthly meeting of the board it was decided that members are to seek a meeting with the members of the Oireachtas for the areas covered by the GRETB, Galway East, Galway West and Roscommon-Leitrim in order to discuss this and a number of other issues that may be impacting on schools and businesses in the area.