Turas óige Feachtas
February 11, 2014
Rónán Ó Domhnaill nominated by the Government for the position of An Coimisinéir Teanga
February 11, 2014
Seán Ó Cuirreáin’s successor to be appointed by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins
Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley T.D., has announced the nomination of journalist Rónán Ó Domhnaill from An Cheathrú Rua for the role of An Coimisinéir Teanga.
Ó Domhnaill is a graduate of the National University of Ireland, Galway, and he has been political correspondent with Nuacht RTÉ/TG4 for the past seven years.
21 expressions of interest were received for the position of Coimisinéir Teanga following on from the announcement by current Language Commissioner, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, in December that he will resign from his role on 23 February as a result of the Government’s failure to implement language legislation at the level of the State.
The Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga was established in 2004 under the Official Languages Act 2003 to monitor the compliance of public bodies with provisions under the Act and Ó Cuirreáin’s announcement continues to be a hot topic with the Government coming in for some heavy criticism in recent months based on the reasons given for Ó Cuirreáin’s, the first Language Commissioner ever appointed, decision to resign.
Announcing the Government’s nomination, the Minister of State said: “I’m delighted that Mr. Ó Domhnaill has accepted the nomination to the position as the new Coimisinéir Teanga. He is held in high esteem by the Irish language and Gaeltacht communities in his capacity as a political correspondent and I am certain that his experience will greatly benefit him as An Coimisinéir Teanga”.
Ó Domhnaill faces a challenging role as Language Commissioner where he must confront several issues raised by the current Commissioner including the low standard of the language scheme system, the lack of competence in Irish throughout the state service, the Government’s new recruitment policy for the state service and the lack of an independent audit or review on the implementation of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language.
The outgoing Language Commissioner also cited the delay in the Heads of Bill regarding the review of the Official Languages Act 2003 which was announced in 2011, and the lack of details provided up until now regarding the merging of the Office of the Language Commissioner with the Office of the Ombudsman announced in the 2011 Public Service Reform Plan’.
An Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin has congratulated Rónán Ó Domhnaill on his nomination, “I wish him every success in the challenging work of promoting language rights for the people of the Gaeltacht and Irish speakers in general” he said.
Uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge, Donnchadh Ó hAodha, said that the appointment of Rónán Ó Domhnaill as An Coimisnéir Teanga is welcomed but the Government is continuing to avoid the major issue which is the addressing the recommendations made by the outgoing Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin.
The recommendations and “pretence” raised by Seán Ó Cuirreáin, as well as the challenges facing the newly appointed Coimisinéir Teanga, will be discussed when Minister of State Dinny McGinley, T.D., appears before the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language and Related Matters on 6 March 2014.
An Coimisinéir Teanga is appointed by the President of Ireland on the advice of the Government following resolutions passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann recommending the appointment. The period of appointment will last six years.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Oíche eolais i nGaelscoil Gaelscoil na Giúise 26.2.2014
February 11, 2014
Beidh oíche eolais ar siúl san Ionad Pobail i dTeach na Giúise ar an gCéadaoin an 26ú Feabhra. Tá súil againn thú a fheiceáil ann. We will be holding an information evening on Wednesday the 26th of February at 7.30pm in the Firhouse Community Centre. Looking forward to meeting you there.
Eolaíocht na n-óg ag Pláinéadlann Ard Mhacha
February 11, 2014
More than a cupla focal needed
February 11, 2014
I too share the frustrations of Daithi MacCarthaigh and Paul Milne (Letters, 2/2/2014) in relation to the Irish language, and encourage you to continue this important debate.
Paul has identified one of the main problems facing the language: the antipathy of primary and secondary school students towards it. I agree with him that a radical approach is called for. I do not, however, agree that a simplified version of the language is the way to go. Such a policy would only serve to drive a wedge between fluent speakers and the next generation of Irish students and this would never be turned around. The Department of Education and Skills should critically examine how and by whom Irish is taught in our schools. All future secondary school Irish teachers should be fluent Irish graduates, who have spent a considerable part of their studies in one or more of the Gaeltacht regions. Above all else, they should be enthusiastic Irish speakers in the classroom. Mol an Oige agus tiocfaidh sé before it is all too late.
John Burke Beaumont, Dublin 9
www.businesspost.ie
Seimineár ‘Buntáiste Breise na Gaeilge’ i gCeatharlach
February 11, 2014
Irish National Stud to offer Irish Language Tours for Seachtain na Gaeilge
February 11, 2014
As part of this year’s Seachtain na Gaeilge, the Irish National Stud in Co. Kildare will offer guided tours through Irish.
The guided tours will be available for members of the public or schools between 03 March and 14 March 2014 and must be reserved in advance.
Three distinct tours will be provided depending on the age of the students and the schools’ requirements. It is best to contact the Stud in advance to discuss which option is most suitable for your school.
A. Interactive SESE Discovery trail with Discover Primary Science activities.
This tour includes a special trail designed by Paddy Madden, with regard to the social, environmental and social education curriculum and include DPS activities. Students get the opportunity to visit the horse museum, the stud farm, the Japanese Gardens and St. Fiachra’s Garden.
This tour lasts for one and a half hourse, and costs €10.50 per student for groups of 30 or more students.
B. Discover Primary Science & Maths Trail
Worksheets are available for this tour which relate to the following SESE Curriculum Strands: Living Things; Energy and Forces; and Natural Environments.
A Tour Guide takes the children around the Stud Farm which takes about 45 minutes, then the Teacher takes the children on a nature trail through St. Fiachra’s Garden. The children learn how to measure a tree, how to tell the age of a tree, how to identify particular birds and will also learn about Swan Life and Food Webs.
The children return to school with their worksheets and when back in the classroom they carry out a Word Search & Crossword.
This tour last approximately two and a half hours and costs €7 per child.
C. Regular School Tour:
The children are met by a Tour Guide, where they are taken on a tour of the Stud Farm which is both educational and fun. Highlights include viewing of new born Foals & Falabellas (miniature horses) along the way. The tour also includes a visit to St. Fiachra’s Garden which is located beside the playground.
This tour last approximately one and a half hours and costs €6 per child.
If you would like to book a tour through Irish at the Irish National Stud, please contact reservations@instourism.net or 045 521617.
Further information in relation to the Irish National Stud is available online at: www.irishnationalstud.ie.
Gaelport.com
Dublin preparing for Lá Mór na Gaeilge
February 11, 2014
Large crowds to descend upon Dublin this Saturday
It won’t be long now until communities and groups from all around the country make their way to Dublin for Lá Mór na Gaeilge.
The march is taking place to highlight the rights of the Irish-speaking and Gaeltacht communities and will take place on Saturday, 15 March 2014. The rally will leave the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, at 2.00pm and the aim of the campaign is to show that the Government’s approach to Irish language affairs is in breach of Irish speakers’ language rights.
The campaign was established following the announcement by the Language Commissioner, Seán Ó Cuirreáin in December that he would be resigning as a result of the Government’s failure to implement language legislation at the level of the State.
According the to campaign organisers: “This campaign has been inspired by, and we have been motivated to seek the support of the wider community throughout the island for our rights following:
the announcement by Seán Ó Cuirreáin, the Language Commissioner, that he is to resign on the 24th February 2014 because of a lack of Government support in the south for the language rights of the Irish language and Gaeltacht community
the report by the Council of Europe that the promotion and development of the Irish language in the north is being blocked by hostile attitudes in Stormont, and a lack of support for its use in the courts and in education.”
Buses will travel to Dublin from Conamara, Donegal, Armagh, Leitrim, Cork, Kildare, Belfast, Meath, Tyrone and Derry.
The march will be a lively event which will celebrate Irish as a thriving spoken language and Seo Linn, members of Kila and Na Fíréin will close the say’s events.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Minister Quinn launches the Final report on the Síolta Quality Assurance Programme for early years care and education
February 11, 2014
Report provides blueprint for achieving gold standard of care and education for 0 to 6 year olds
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., today launched the Final report on the Síolta Quality Assurance Programme.
This programme is aimed at assisting those who care for children aged 0 to 6 to meet the quality standards of Síolta, which is the National Framework for Quality in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) settings. This would include child-minders who care for children in their homes, crèches, Montessoris, and infant classes in primary schools.
Publishing the final report today, Minister Quinn emphasised the importance of quality in ECCE settings.
“Every parent who entrusts the care of their very young children to another person, or indeed a school, wants to be assured that their child is receiving high quality care and education. We know how important this is to promote children’s well-being, their development and also in laying the foundation for their future success in life.”
“The Síolta Quality Assurance Programme is a tool that will help those involved in early childhood care and education to achieve the gold standards that we all want to see in all settings involving our 0 to 6 year olds.”
The Síolta Quality Assurance Programme was piloted on a phased basis over the period 2009 – 2013 and 57 ECCE settings completed the programme during this time. The Programme involved each setting being supported by a Síolta mentor through an intensive twelve step process.
A key element of this process was self-assessment by the service of their own performance against the Síolta quality standards. These self-assessments were externally validated and included a site visit.
The Quality Assurance Programme was managed by the Early Years Policy Unit in the Department of Education and Skills with key support being provided through the Voluntary Childcare Organisations and Early Intervention Programmes.
Minister Quinn added, “There is clearly an appetite from ECCE practitioners to engage with the Síolta Quality agenda and aspire to achieving the highest standards possible. When they do, this engagement has made a really positive impact on the level of quality of care and education for young children.
“While I acknowledge that we have put in place a demanding benchmark that may take some time for all of our early childhood settings to achieve, I believe this is a worthy aspiration and with the right support and mentoring it can be achieved.”
Alongside the findings of this evaluation are a number of other important developments in the ECCE sector. These include the plans by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald T.D. to establish a new National Quality Support Service for pre-school services. Consultations are on-going on its establishment following funding being provided for it in Budget 2014. The new support service will work directly with ECCE services to improve quality, including supporting services to implement Síolta and Aistear, which is the National Curriculum Framework for the early years.
To assist the development of this new support service, Minister Quinn has asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to develop a set of practice guidelines drawing on core elements of Síolta and Aistear.
The guidelines will allow the new support service to focus their quality support actions on the areas of practice which have been identified though research as most in need of development, such as planning and evaluation, curriculum, identity and belonging.
The DES will continue to work closely with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on these and other aspects of the national quality agenda to ensure that there is a clear emphasis on improving the quality of provision in the ECCE sector.
The Final Report on the Development and Implementation of the Síolta Quality Assurance Programme is available at http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Policy-Reports/S%C3%ADolta-Final-Report.pdf
Buaiteoirí Scléip san Axis, 10 Feabhra 2014
February 11, 2014
