‘Séard atá in Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais na Gaillimhe ná ‘áit ina gcuirtear seirbhísí ar fáil do scoileanna, do mhúinteoirí, do thuismitheoirí, do bhoird agus do dhaoine iomchuí eile ar seirbhísí iad a thacaíonn leo le linn dóibh a bhfeidhmeanna a chomhall ó thaobh oideachas a chur ar fáil agus ar áit í atá aitheanta chun na críche sin ag an Aire’ (An tAcht Oideachais, 1998).

Tá Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais na Gaillimhe ag cur deiseanna forbartha gairmiúla ar fáil don phobal oideachais i gCathair agus i gContae na Gaillimhe ó bunaíodh é i 1973. Tá sé ar cheann de líonra náisiúnta de fiche Ionad Oideachais. I 1998, fuarthas áitreabh sealadach i Lár Pháirc an Bhaile, Bóthar Thuama, Gaillimh áit a raibh sé i bhfeidhm go dtí 2001.

I láthair na huaire, feidhmíonn Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais na Gaillimhe i saoráid nua-aimseartha, shaintógtha, a bhuaigh duaiseanna ailtireachta, atá suite ar Champas Ealaíne Institiúid Teicneolaíochta na Gaillimhe-Maigh Eo i bPáirc an Tobair, Gaillimh. D'oscail TD Noel Treacy an t-áitreabh saintógtha seo go hoifigiúil i 2001.

Tá forhalla iontrála mór san Ionad, roinnt seomraí oiliúna lena n-áirítear saoráid oiliúna TF. Ó bunaíodh é, tá tacaíocht curtha ar fáil ag an Ionad d’fhorbairt Ghairmiúil Bunscoile, Iar-Bhunscoile, Náisiúnta, Réigiúnach agus Áitiúil do mhúinteoirí agus don phobal oideachais i gcoitinne.

Is comhlacht reachtúil neamhspleách é Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais na Gaillimhe atá faoi bhainistiú Coiste Bainistíochta deonach a toghadh gach bliain. Is áis nua-aimseartha shaintógtha é Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais na Gaillimhe, a sholáthraíonn atmaisféar compordach fáilteach d’fhorbairt phearsanta agus ghairmiúil do phobail bunscoile agus iar-bhunscoile.

The Galway Education Support Centre has been offering professional development opportunities to the education community in Galway City and County since its establishment in 1973. It is one of a national network of twenty one Education Centres. In 1998, a temporary premises was obtained in Town Park Centre, Tuam Road, Galway where it operated until 2001.

Galway Education Support Centre currently operates in an award-winning, architecturally designed building, located on the Grounds of GMIT Art Campus in Wellpark, Galway. This purpose-built premises was officially opened in 2001 by Noel Treacy TD.

The Centre comprises a large entrance foyer, a number of training rooms including a state-of-the-art IT training facility. Since its establishment, the Centre has provided support for Primary, Post-Primary, National, Regional and Local Professional development for teachers and the wider education community.

Galway Education Support Centre is an independent statutory body, managed by a voluntary Management Committee that is elected annually. Galway Education Support Centre is a modern, purpose-built facility, providing a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for personal and professional development for primary and post-primary communities.