SINN Féin councillor  Terry Crossan has been elected Chairperson of Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB).

The Inishowen councillor’s election took place at today’s meeting of Donegal ETB in Letterkenny.

Cllr Declan Meehan was elected Deputy Chairperson.

They replace outgoing Chairperson Cllr Donal Coyle and outgoing Deputy Chairperson Patsy McVicar.

Cllr Crossan has paid tribute to the outgoing chairman, Cllr. Coyle.

“I’m honoured to be elected Chairperson today of Donegal ETB,” he said.

“I’d like to congratulate Cllr Donal Coyle on the great work he did during his tenure. I hope I can represent the ETB to the best of my ability going forward.”

Outgoing Donegal ETB Chairperson Cllr Donal Coyle hands over the chain of office to newly elected Donegal ETB Chairperson Cllr Terry Crossan.

The Board of Donegal ETB is made up of twelve elected representatives, two staff, two parents, two local industry and three sectoral interest representatives.

The other elected representatives include Cllr Ciaran Brogan, Cllr Fionán Bradley, Cllr Albert Doherty, Cllr Donal Coyle, Cllr Brian Carr, Cllr Martin Farren, Cllr Martin Harley, Cllr Michael McBride, Cllr Pauric McGarvey and Cllr Tomás Seán Devine.

Staff representatives are Joanne Donaghy and Kyle Clarke, while parents’ representatives are Geoffrey Browne and Lorraine Doherty.

The remaining five places have been filled by Lorraine Thompson (Donegal Youth Service) representing Youth Work Ireland, Patsy McVicar representing the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) / Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS), Stephen McCahill representing the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (IPAV), Dr Joanne Gallagher representing the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) and Edel Ní Chorráin representing Foras na Gaeilge.

Donegal ETB Chief Executive Anne McHugh said:  “I would like to congratulate Cllr Terry Crossan and Cllr Declan Meehan on their election as Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of Donegal ETB.

“It is wonderful to have two colleagues with such vast experience and knowledge of our organisation and I am very much looking forward to working with them so that we can deliver on the final year of our Strategy Statement.

“The contribution of all our Board members to the management of Donegal ETB’s work is central to our delivery of a quality, learner-centred education and training service and their guidance and support is very much valued by the Executive.”

The current Board will sit for the next four years.