School board sacked for enrolling extra class without approval
Feabhra 13, 2013
A primary school board has been sacked by its patron for enrolling an extra infant class last September without approval.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn approved the dissolution by An Foras Pátrúnachta of the board of management at Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil in Glanmire, Co Cork, before Christmas. The all-Irish schools’ patron body has put two managers in place in the meantime but plans are being made to put a new board in place shortly.
The school moved from the rugby club where it first opened in 2006 to a former hotel building in Dunkettle 2011. But a board decision early last year to take in three infant classes in September was made without the patron’s approval.
It did not have sanction either from the Department of Education to change from a previous intake of two junior infant classes to three, as it would not need to pay an additional teacher if the extra 20 to 30 children were enrolled instead across other schools in the area. The department confirmed it had discussions last year with the school, which now has around 300 pupils up to fifth class.
“The school were advised that, based on the department’s analysis of pupil numbers in the Riverstown/Glanmire catchment area, there was sufficient school accommodation capacity available to cater for pupil place demand. In that regard, the school authority accepted that the long-term size of the school should remain at 16 classes,” a spokesperson told the Irish Examiner.
The possibility of appeals over refusal to enrol meant the three classes were allowed enrol last autumn, but the patron body asked each board member in July for an explanation of their role.
It is understood Mr Quinn approved the board’s dissolution in November following a request from An Foras, under a section of the 1998 Education Act that can be used where a patron believes a board is not discharging its functions effectively. An Foras Pátrúnachta did not comment on the situation when contacted by the Irish Examiner yesterday.
Aside from the enrolment issue, there were longer-running tensions between the board and patron body over the teaching of religion. An Foras said its multi-denominational ethos means no faith-specific religion should be taught during school hours, but children of different faiths were being taught separately for the first 20 minutes of each day since the school opened in 2006.
The patron called a halt to this in late 2011, despite the arguments of the board and many staff and parents that the established practice should be allowed continue.
“We told the Foras last year we wanted things to stay the same. It was operating fine until this happened out of the blue at the end of 2011,” said one parent who asked not to be named.
The teaching of denominational religion during school hours is now forbidden, but Catholic and Humanist teaching is available before or after school for parents who want it for their children.
www.irishexaminer.com
Ceisteanna bunúsacha le freagairt faoin ‘táirge den scoth’
Feabhra 13, 2013
Más maith leat do mholadh, faigh bás. Faoi dhaoine a deirtear sin ach is fíor faoi nuachtáin fosta é más fianaise ar bith í ráiteas Fhoras na Gaeilge faoin nuachtán seachtainiúil, Gaelscéal.
D’fhógair an t-eagras thuaidh/theas go raibh siad le deireadh a chur le conradh an nuachtáin leis na foilsitheoirí, Torann na dTonn, sula raibh a sheal istigh agus deireadh a chur le maoiniú bliantúil €400,000 dá bharr sin.
Mhol siad lucht an nuachtáin as “táirge den scoth a chur ar fáil do phobal léitheoireachta na Gaeilge” i líne amháin agus dúirt go neamhbhalbh sa chéad líne eile nárbh í “an fhormáid chlóite an bealach is oiriúnaí le seirbhís nuachta a sholáthar do phobal léitheoireachta na Gaeilge”.
Mar a dúirt an Conallach lá den saol: fwhat?!
Más táirge den scoth a bhí ann cad chuige nár cheannaigh daoine é agus cad chuige ar shocraigh an foras deireadh a chur leis an mhaoiniú? Murab í an fhormáid chlóite an bealach is oiriúnaí le seirbhís nuachta a chur ar fáil do lucht na Gaeilge, cad é mar a d’éirigh leis an nuachtán san fhormáid ar líne?
Ní raibh daoine ag briseadh na gcos leis an nuachtán a cheannach – 1,314 cóip sa tseachtain de réir fhigiúirí an fhorais – agus, bíodh is nach bhfuil figiúirí neamhspleácha ann, ní cosúil go raibh an pobal ag briseadh na méarchlár leis an nuachtán a íoslódáil saor in aisce ón idirlíon
Cad é an bua, mar sin, a bhí ag an “táirge den scoth” seo? Ábhar miontráchtais a bheas ann do mhac léinn éigin iriseoireachta amach anseo fáil amach cad é a tharla don bhó bheannaithe nach raibh ann sa deireadh ach capall faoi cheilt i mburgar na meán.
D’fhéadfá cúpla leathanach a líonadh leis na deacrachtaí a bhain leis an táirge agus leis na dúshláin a bhí le tabhairt: easpa taithí na foirne agus na bainistíochta san earnáil seo; an deacracht le margadh léitheoireachta a aithint agus a chothú; an gá le dul in iomaíocht le seirbhísí fiúntacha raidió agus teilifíse; an riachtanas le gean a chothú don nuachtán i measc an phobail.
(9,000 cóip sa tseachtain a luaigh Torann na dTonn a bheith mar sprioc acu. Cé acu is soineanta mar sin; an dream a deir go ndíolfaidh siad 9,000 cóip de nuachtán Gaeilge nó an dream a thugann an t-airgead dóibh le tabhairt faoi?)
Ach ní hiad na laigí agus na dúshláin is tábhachtaí ag an bhomaite. Is í an cheist is bunúsaí faoin rud ar fad cad é mar a theip chomh tubaisteach ar fhiontar náisiúnta eile de chuid an fhorais?
Cad é mar a reáchtáil an foras comórtas le nuachtán seachtainiúil a chur ar fáil tá tamall gairid ó shin – 2010 – agus a laghad sin a bheith le feiceáil mar thoradh ar an obair agus ar an airgead?
Tubaiste atá ann d’fhoireann an nuachtáin go bhfuil bata is bóthar le tabhairt dóibh; tubaiste atá ann do phobal na Gaeilge go bhfuil bochtú déanta ar a roghanna léitheoireachta agus tubaiste atá ann don fhoras mar léiríonn sé a n-éagumas arís.
Bhí an nuachtán seachtainiúil ar cheann den bheagán tionscnamh uile-oileánda a bhí ann. Deis a bhí sa pháipéar glór náisiúnta a thabhairt do lucht na Gaeilge le hanailís a dhéanamh, aitheantas a thabhairt agus iaróg a thógáil.
Meastar páirt lucht an nuachtáin san fhiontar sin mar is ceart ach caithfear cuid an fhorais a mheas fosta. Ar thuig muintir an fhorais cúrsaí nuachtáin iad féin?
Bhraithfeá nár thuig agus bhraithfeá go raibh siad ar tí botún eile a dhéanamh. Ní hí “an fhormáid chlóite an bealach is oiriúnaí le seirbhís nuachta a sholáthar”? Ní hé sin taithí an scríbhneora seo.
Seachtain eile i saol an fhorais agus tubaiste eile. Theip ar an tSamhail Nua Mhaoinithe anuraidh agus níl ag éirí go rómhaith leis an tsamhail úrnua mhaoinithe faoi láthair.
Chaith an foras €200,000 ar tháillí dlíodóra ar cheist inmheánach pinsin; tugann a miontuairiscí féin le fios go raibh próiseas inmheánach smachta ar siúl acu agus tá deireadh anois le tionscnamh mór eile.
Ní chothaíonn na himeachtaí seo misneach; ní chothaíonn siad cur chun cinn na teanga. Tá an t-am ag na hairí cúpla ceist a chur ar phríomfheidh-meannach an fhorais, Ferdie Mac an Fhailigh, agus ar chathaoirleach an bhoird, Liam Ó Maoilmhichíl, faoina bhfuil ar siúl ag an eagras.
www.irishtimes.com
The talk of education
Feabhra 13, 2013
There is growing anger among student teachers about new charges for Irish courses in the Gaeltacht.
Students are required to attend a three-week language course in first and second year. In the past, the courses were subsidised but this has been withdrawn, leaving students to pick up the cost, estimated at about €1,500.
A wider question is whether student teachers should be obliged to have a C3 or better in higher-level Irish in the Leaving Cert.
Aodhán Ó Riordáin (above) of the Labour Party says the the requirement for “honours Irish” effectively acts as a barrier to poorer students who aspire to become primary school teachers.
DEIS secondary schools, he says, are rarely in the position to offer higher-level Irish for their students. And poorer families do not have the resources to pay for grinds or to send their children to the Gaeltacht on summer courses. His comments merit discussion. But who is brave enough to run with them and risk the wrath of the immensely powerful Irish-language lobby?
IRISH TIMES
Agallaimh do Ghaelscoil Cholmcille i mBaile Átha Cliath
Feabhra 8, 2013
Beidh agallamh á n-eagrú do thuismitheoirí atá ag iarraidh a bpáistí a chuir chuig Gaelscoil Cholmcille sa Chúlóg i mbliana.
Níl ach ocht spás ar fáil do na teaghlaigh a bheas ag dul faoi agallamh de bharr go bhfuil 23 páistí le deirfiúracha agus deartháireacha sa scoil cheana féin ag tosú ann i mí Mheán Fómhair seo chugainn.
Chláraigh tuismitheoirí thart ar 140 dalta ar liosta feithimh na scoile i dtús ama agus tá 30 teaghlach ag léiriú spéise ann go fóill.
Tabharfar tús áite do theaghlaigh le Gaeilge agus do pháistí atá ag freastal ar naíonraí Gaeilge.
www.gaelsceal.ie
New Gaelic school planned for Glasgow
Feabhra 8, 2013
A NEW Gaelic school is to be created in Glasgow following an £800,000 investment from the Scottish Government.
The primary school will be part of the existing Glendale Campus in Pollokshields. Alastair Allan, the minister for learning, said:
“The continued increase in demand for Gaelic medium education in Glasgow clearly demonstrates that parents are not only recognising the impressive learning benefits that come with a bilingual education, but that we are securing a sustainable and vibrant future for the language in future generations.
“I am delighted to announce this latest funding and look forward to work beginning on the school to create an environment that will inspire pupils and school staff throughout their time there.”
Glasgow’s first Gaelic school, at Woodside, opened in August 2006. Councillor Stephen Curran added: “This money is very welcome.
“Along with investment from Glasgow City Council the provision will create opportunities for over 200 Gaelic speaking pupils and the new school will help provide progression for teachers in Gaelic medium education by extending their prospects in the city and alleviate the pressure on the Woodside campus.”
www.scotsman.com
Éacht Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin
Feabhra 7, 2013
Tá éacht déanta ag Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin, An Cheathrú Rua, agus Craobh shinsearach na hÉireann de Chomórtais Díospóireachta Ghael Linn 2013 buaite acu. Is é seo an cúigiú bliain i ndiaidh a chéile don scoil Craobh na hÉireann a bhaint amach i ndíospóireachtaí Ghael Linn.
Thug Fionnuala de Bhailís, Síofra Ní Shé agus Muireann Ní Fhatharta Corn Uí Chadhain leo ag na babhtaí ceannais a bhí ar siúl i gColáiste na Tríonóide an tseachtain seo caite. Anuraidh bhí an lá ag an scoil agus iad ag filleadh ar an gCeathrú Rua mar sheaimpíní sóisearach na hÉireann agus sna trí bhliain roimhe sin is í Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin a thug leo an Chraobh shinsearach. Léiríonn na torthaí seo díograis múinteoirí na scoile chomh maith ar ndóigh le cumas cainte na ndaltaí. Ní nach ionadh cuireadh an-fháilte abhaile roimh an fhoireann agus Máirín Ní Dhomhnaill, an múinteoir a threoraigh an fhoireann ó thús deireadh an comórtas.
Sa bhabhta ceannais fuair siad an ceann is fearr ar Phobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, Phobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, agus Choláiste Eoin, Baile Átha Cliath.
Is é an Seanadóir Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, a bhí mar aoichainteoir ag an ócáid, agus mhol sé na rannpháirtithe óga as bua na cainte a bheith acu uilig. Bhronn sé buanchorn agus duais €1,000 ar an bhfoireann bhuacach agus duais €250 an fhoireann ar na foirne eile.
http://www.advertiser.ie/galway
10,000 Gaeilge speakers: Dungannon undergoes an Irish renaissance
Feabhra 7, 2013
Use of the Irish language in the Dungannon District is rocketing due to the impassioned work of teachers, educationalists amateur enthusiasts and politicians, it has emerged.
The native language is in such fine fettle that the Dungannon district now boasts the second highest proportion of Irish speakers in Northern Ireland. Almost one in five local people claim to speak some Irish (18 percent), second only to the Newry and Mourne District at 20%.
The extent of the language renaissance was revealed in the latest data released from the 2011 Census.
A total of 10,050 Dungannon residents said they had some ability in Irish.
Language campaigners now believe that the creation of Irish language communities in the local district might be a possibility in the future.
Dungannon Council’s Irish Language Officer Seamus Kilpatrick said there had been an enormous shift in attitudes since the last census in 2001.
The Good Friday Agreement has led to a raft of measures to promote the Irish language, as well as a sea-change in the way Irish is taught in local schools.
Irish medium education in the Dungannon District has also been a big success.
However, hostility to the Irish language still remains.
Last October, DUP politicians accused the council of sending a very bad signal for the Unionist community, after it emerged that a receptionist was greeting callers with “Dia Duit”, Lord Maurice Morrow said he had been contacted by members of the public who had been answered in Irish when contacting the council.
“I immediately contacted the council for a response and it appears a member of staff took the liberty of addressing callers in Irish, which of course, is not council policy.
“I have been assured this matter has been duly noted. However, this sort of behaviour throws out a very bad signal for the Unionist/Protestant community, who represent over 40% of the borough population.”
It emerged that the receptionist in question was Irish-speaking and had decided to do this on his own initiative.
http://www.tyronetimes.co.uk/
Foclóir Béarla-Gaeilge nua seolta
Eanáir 31, 2013
Rinne Uachtarán na hÉireann, Micheál D Ó hUigínn, an Foclóir Béarla-Gaeilge nua a sheoladh an tseachtain seo caite ag ócáid sa Ghailearaí Náisiúnta i mBaile Átha Cliath.
Is é seo an chéad fhoclóir náisiúnta Béarla-Gaeilge ó foilsíodh foclóir de Bhaldraithe i 1959. Is féidir teacht ar an bhfoclóir nua ar líne, saor in aisce, ag www.focloir.ie. Tá nach mór aon trian d’ábhar iomlán an fhoclóra ar fáil faoi láthair. Cumhdaíonn sé sin thar 80% de ghnáthúsáid an Bhéarla. Beifear ag cur leis an leagan ar líne i mbliana agus an bhliain seo chugainn, agus foilseofar an leagan deiridh ar líne agus mar leabhar araon i 2015. “Tá an Foclóir nua ag teacht le gnás an lae inniu san fhoclóireacht chomhaimseartha sa mhéid gurb í an úsáid an tslat tomhais maidir le cad é a chuimsítear i bhfoclóirí. Tá ábhar Béarla an Fhoclóra nua bunaithe ar an tslí a n-úsáidtear an teanga sin in Éirinn agus mar an gcéanna tá an t-ábhar Gaeilge bunaithe ar Ghaeilge na Gaeltachta sa lá atá inniu ann,” arsa an Dr Pádraig Ó Mianáin, eagarthóir an Fhoclóra. “Ba mhian linn an Ghaeilge bheo a chur chun tosaigh, agus tá comhaid fhuaime as na trí mhórchanúint ag dul leis an ábhar chomh maith mar áis bhreise do lucht foghlama na teanga,” ar sé.
Tá breis agus 7,000 ceannfhocal san fhoclóir reatha, ina bhfuil 1.3 milliún focal de théacs agus thar 40,000 frása samplach mar aon le comhaid fhuaime agus treoracha cuimsitheacha gramadaí. Beidh thar 40,000 ceannfhocal san iomlán san fhoclóir faoin am a mbeidh sé críochnaithe i 2015.
www.advertiser/galway
Gradam idirnáisiúnta aistriúcháin buaite ag bean Bhaile Átha Cliath
Eanáir 30, 2013
Maeve Walsh as Ardscoil Loreto, Baile Átha Cliath, a bhain craobh na hÉireann sa chomórtas bliantúil aistriúcháin de chuid Choimisiún na hEorpa, Juvenes Translatores nó “Aistritheoirí Óga”.
D’aistrigh Walsh aon leathanach amháin ó Ghaeilge go Béarla agus mheas na breithiúna gurbh é a haistriúchán an ceann ab fhearr as an 12 scoil Éireannach a bhí sa chomórtas.
Beidh Walsh ag dul chun na Bruiséile le bualadh leis an choimisinéir atá freagrach as ilteangachas, Androulla Vassiliou, agus le haistritheoirí an choimisiúin.
Dúirt Vassiliou gurbh iontach an bealach é le foghlaim teangacha agus an t-aistriúchán mar ghairm bheatha a chur chun cinn.
www.irishtimes.com
‘Beart de réir briathair
Eanáir 30, 2013
“Beart de réir Briathair” an téama a bheidh ag Tóstal na Gaeilge 2013.
Beidh an tóstal ar siúl in Óstán Hilton, Plás Charlemont, Baile Átha Cliath, Dé Sathairn 16ú Feabhra idir 9.30am agus 5pm.
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge atá i mbun an lae agus pléifear beartais an Rialtais i leith na Gaeilge i mbliana.
“Ag Tógáil Clainne Trí Ghaeilge” an teideal a bheidh ar an chéad seisiún le Feargal Ó Cuilinn, ceannasaí Comhluadar; Dr Brian Ó Curnáin, saineolaí ar chanúineolaíocht agus socheolaíocht na Gaeilge le hInstitiúid Ard-Léinn Bhaile Átha Cliath; Aoife Ní Shéagha, Léachtóir sa Phleanáil Teanga ar Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, agus Sorcha Ní Chéilleachair, cathaoirleach Thuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta (Conamara).
Léireoidh siad a gcuid tuairimí faoi na deacrachtaí agus faoi na dúshláin atá ann an teanga a thabhairt ó ghlúin go glúin.
“An Ghaeltacht in 2013” a bheidh faoi chaibidil sa dara seisiún maidine.
Beidh dhá sheisiún ann tráthnóna: “Tionchar Bheartais an Rialtais ar an nGaeilge” agus “Freagrachtaí na Stát i leith thodhchaí na teanga”.
Eolas: 01-6794780 nó eolas@gaelport.com
www.irishtimes.com
