Gaelscoileanna Teo. General Election Campaign
May 3, 2007
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. today launched a national campaign – ‘FAIR ACCOMMODATION NOW! – DEMANDING A PERMANENT SOLUTION‘ as part of the organisation’s policy to address the current and ongoing accommodation crisis in Irish-medium schools at primary level. GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.’ s campaign is being organised to coincide with the general election with the purpose of focusing politicians minds on an issue that has afflicted the Irish-medium education sector for a long number of years.
There has been steady growth and development in the Irish-medium sector in the last 30 years but the number of schools awaiting permanent accommodation is increasing rather than decreasing. Launching the campaign, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.’s President, Mícheál Ó Broin stated, "The accommodation crisis at primary and post-primary levels is a challenge that needs to be urgently addressed. Little progress has been made on this issue, and the campaign reiterates GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.’ s call on the Government and politicians to face up to their responsibilities in regard to putting agreed systems in place for the benefit of the children in this country".
The facts reveal that:-
Ø 53% of gaelscoileanna at primary level (of 131 in the 26 counties) are without permanent accommodation, i.e. 69 schools.
Ø Of the 29 schools that have opened since 1998 none have permanent accommodation.
Ø Of the 58 schools that have opened since 1994 – 52 schools are still without permanent accommodation.
40 schools are waiting at least 10 years for permanent accommodation and of those 9 are waiting 20 years or longer.
The main findings of the survey conducted among schools are presented as part of the package launched today as well as proposed solutions to the current crisis. GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. also launched a document outlining the organisation’s demands on the government to improve the Irish medium sector as a whole.
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the national co-ordinating body for schools teaching through the medium of Irish. It helps parents and local groups to set up new schools and supports the established all-Irish schools. There are 163 primary schools and 38 secondary schools currently providing education through the medium of Irish. 5 new Irish medium primary schools will open in September 2007 as well as 4 post-primary schools.
Further Information:
Mícheál Ó Broin, Gaelscoileanna President 087-9467700
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. Office: 01-4773155
END
MAIN FINDINGS OF GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.’s ACCOMMODATION SURVEY OF SCHOOLS, 2007
(93% (122 schools) returned a completed questionnaire which investigated the current accommodation situation of 131 primary schools in the 26 counties, outside of the Gaeltacht)
BACKGROUND
Ongoing Crisis
The accommodation crisis in the Irish-medium education sector has been ongoing for many years. The number of schools awaiting permanent accommodation is increasing rather than decreasing. It is unacceptable that parents are obliged to contribute or fund-raise to supplement rental payments from the Department of Education and Science. This crisis was recognized in the Programme for Government, 2002:
"A comprehensive review of the needs of all Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht schools will be undertaken. As part of the work of the Department of Education & Science, the physical condition of all buildings used by these schools will be reviewed and a programme put in place to ensure that they meet required standards."
Unfortunately, very little progress has been made on this urgent issue. Any achievements to date are totally insufficient. It is obvious that the current system is failing to deal with the problem. This issue needs to be prioritised by the Government, as promised. Unsuitable temporary arrangements must be ended and we demand of the Department of Education and Science to provide a safe and suitable learning environment for all our pupils.
PERMANENT ACCOMMODATION – THE FACTS
53% of gaelscoileanna without permanent accommodation
There are 131 Irish-medium primary schools in the country (excluding 5 new schools due to open in September 2007). At present 69 of these are in temporary accommodation, i.e. 53%.
Of the 29 schools that have opened since 1998 none have permanent accommodation.
Of the 58 schools that have opened since 1994 – 52 are still without permanent accommodation, constituting 90% of the total for this period.
104 schools have opened between 1983 agus 2006. 69 schools, i.e. 66%, are still without permanent accommodation. Of these:-
• 34 schools opened between 1983 agus 1989 – 10 are without permanent accommodation (i.e. 29%).
• 51 schools opened between 1990 agus 1999 – 40 are without permanent accommodation (i.e. 78%).
• 19 schools opened between 2000 agus 2006 – 19 are without permanent accommodation (i.e. 100%)
40 schools are waiting at least 10 years for permanent accommodation and of those 9 are waiting 20 years or longer.
SUITABILITY OF ACCOMMODATION
59% gaelscoileanna in unsuitable accommodation.
59% of primary schools, encompassing both permanent and temporary accommodation, responded stating that their school’s accommodation is unsuitable.
Amongst the reasons given were the following:-
Prefabricated Classrooms
· 22 schools completely dependent on prefabricated buildings.
· 25 other schools using prefabricated buildings.
Old Buildings
– for example old storerooms, TB hospital, and related difficulties such as high heating costs, windows which cannot be opened, holes in roof/floors, damp etc.
Sharing Space
sharing space with sports clubs and the related difficulties such as lack of storage space and lack of privacy.
insufficient toilet facilities for pupils and staff.
Deficits in Schools
· 49 (40%) of schools have either no hall or lack a suitable hall
· 33 (27%) of schools lacking sufficient space and/or sufficient classrooms
· 13 (11%) of schools that cannot physically expand and therefore cannot satisfy local demand for places
· 23 (19%) of schools have either no staff-room or lack a suitable staff-room
· 19 (16%) of schools have either no learning support room or lack a suitable learning support room
· 18 (15%) of schools either have no schoolyard or lack a suitable schoolyard
· 9 (7.5%) of schools lack a suitable special needs resource room.
Other basic deficits:
· offices,
· playing fields,
· storage space,
Samples of schools with accommodation deficits:
· Lack of hall, staff-room, special needs room agus storage space
· Lack of hall, learning support room, storage space and proper offices
· Although there is high demand for places in the school, they cannot guarantee places to parents. Presently lack a hall, staff-room and storage area.
· One toilet for 100 pupils, sharing space with a G.A.A. Club and using prefabricated buildings. 11 years waiting for the Department to provide permanent solution.
· Depending completely on prefabricated buildings that are in very poor condition. A site has been earmarked for 5 years now but no progress has been made.
3 schools in temporary accommodation stated that there was uncertainty surrounding the location of the school for the coming school year.
HEALTH and SAFETY CONCERNS:
13% of gaelscoileanna concerned with health and Safety issues.
16 schools (13%) felt that they had health and safety issues in their schools. Samples include:
Holes in the roof and floor, leaks, heat and electrical difficulties, all rooms upstairs, car-park in use as playground, etc.
RENTAL COSTS OF SCHOOLS (without permanent accommodation)
Over €4,500,000 spent on rent each year
Of the 58 schools that responded to the question on rental costs€4,500,000 is being paid in total each year on rent.
OUR DEMANDS
A small number of the 69 schools without permanent accommodation are presently on the planning list within the Department but urgent action is required to eliminate the scandalously long wait being endured by many of the other schools. Accordingly, we demand:
that priority be given within the Planning Section of the Department to address the accommodation crisis in schools with permanent recognition that are housed in temporary accommodation.
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. fully accepts that schools may have to start out in temporary accommodation but ‘temporary’ should mean temporary. Accordingly, we demand:
that proactive planning take place to provide suitable sites through an agreed structure involving the Department of Education and Science and Local Authorities.
that Local Authorities be legally obliged to designate a suitable site for a school as soon as that school has received permanent recognition, as well as having powers of compulsory purchase.
that the Office of Public Works (O.P.W.) be legally obliged to purchase a site for a school within three years of the school receiving permanent recognition.
In the meantime no school, whether newly founded or not, should have to suffer in unsuitable accommodation. Therefore, we demand:
that a minimum standard of accommodation, in terms of both space and physical condition, be put in place immediately and that agreement be made with each school on the timescale for the temporary accommodation.
It is entirely unacceptable that schools in temporary accommodation must fundraise to supplement rental payments from the Department. Therefore, we demand:
that the Department pay 100% of all rental and associated site costs for schools with permanent recognition, and
that in the case of schools without permanent recognition the difference between 75% and 100% of rental costs be repaid to schools once permanent recognition has been granted.
FAIR ACCOMMODATION NOW!
SCLÉIP! 2007: Encouraging Young Gaelic Talent
April 24, 2007
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is delighted to announce Gael-Choláiste Chill Dara as the overall winners of Scléip! 2007, (the national talent competition for Irish-medium post-primary schools). The post-primary school from Kildare won with their extremely enlightening play, Bruscar (Rubbish) on the theme of waste and recycling at the finals which took place on Saturday, 21st April in the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
Twelve Irish-medium post-primary schools with up to 70 acts took part in the four provincial rounds of this competition during March and April of this year and ten of these schools had acts that reached the final.
This is the second year of the competition, organised by GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. and this year the aim was to increase cooperation with other organisations and also showing participants the continuity of Irish-medium education through to third level.
To this end, every provincial heat was organised in conjunction with a local group or organisation. The Ulster heat was organised in conjunction with Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (The Council for Irish-medium education in the north), the Connaught heat with Comharchumann Chorr na Móna, the Munster heat in conjunction with Aonad na Gaeilge, University of Limerick, and the Leinster heat in conjunction with Fiontar in DCU.
This year’s competition saw an increase of two categories to seven:
Pop/Rock music, individual singer/musician, traditional groups, creative dance (individual), creative dance (groups), on-stage show and miscellaneous. Méabh Ní Fhallúin, Raidió na Life; Daracha Nic Philibín, Musician; Éimear Nic Eanraí, Writer and Director were the Adjudicators.
A design competition was organised in conjunction with N.C.A.D. to commission an artist to design and make a trophy and 10 plaques for the competition, in which Robert Ballagh was our guest judge. A design by Annika Berglund, a Swedish artist, of an electric guitar made of porcelain and silver strings on a Birr wood stand was the winning design. 10 similarly designed plaques were made to complement the main piece and were given to each of the category winners. Three extra plaques were given to those who showed exceptional ability and promise but that didn’t win in their category.
Below is a list of the schools that won prizes:
Competition Winners
Bruscar (Rubbish), Gael-choláiste Chill Dara, Co. Kildare: Main competition prize, newly designed Scléip! Trophy.
Tuarmhicasóir, Coláiste Muire, Co. Mayo: Category A, Pop / Rock Music.
Tadhg Maher, Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Co. Dublin: Category B, Ceol Aonair.
Ceoltóirí Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Co. Dublin: Category C, Music Groups (Traditional).
Sorcha Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Gaelcholáiste Choilm, Co. Cork: Category D, Creative Dance (Individual).
Na Síofraigh, Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach, Co, Carlow: Category E, Creative Dance (Groups).
Bruscar (Rubbish), Gael-choláiste Chill Dara, Co. Kildare: Category F, On-Stage Show.
Mím Choilm (Colm’s Mime), Gaelcholáiste Choilm, Co. Cork: Category G, Miscellaneous.
Special Prize Winners
Cathy Ní Néill, Coláiste Íosagáin, Co. Dublin: Category B, Individual Musician.
Na Seacht bPeacaí Marfacha (The Seven Deadly Sins), Coláiste Feirste, Belfast, Co. Antrim: Category F, On-Stage Show.
Na Cailíní ag Canadh (The Singing Girls), Coláiste Chnoic na Labhrás, Co. Limerick: Category G, Miscellaneous.
ENDS.
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the national co-ordinating body for schools teaching through the medium of Irish. It helps parents and local groups to set up new schools and supports the established all-Irish schools. There are 163 primary schools and 38 secondary schools currently providing education through the medium of Irish.
Further information: Seán Ó hAdhmaill (087) 689 5612.
Scléip! 2007 Final
April 18, 2007
Congratulations to all the winners of the various regional heats for getting this far in our national talent competition, Scléip! 2007.
THE SCLÉIP! 2007 FINAL
Date: Saturday, 21 April 2007.
Am: 10.00am. – 6.00pm.
Venue: Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
Below is the latest draft timetable for the final. Subject to change.
Draft-Timetable
Scléip 2007 Final
Category A – Pop / Rock Music
10.00am: Réalta Dhaithí (Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh), (max 8 minutes)
10.15am: Tuarmhicasóir (Coláiste Muire), (max 8 minutes)
10.30am: Punc! (Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach), (max 8 minutes)
10.45am: Aiseolas óna Moltóirí.
Category B – Individual Music
11.00am: Loinnir Ní Dhonghaile (Coláiste Feirste), (max 8 minutes)
11.10am: Cathy Ní Néill (Coláiste Íosagáin), (max 8 minutes)
11.20am: Clíodhna Nic Bhranair (Coláiste Feirste), (max 8 minutes)
11.30am: Caoimhe de Bhillis (Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí), (max 8 minutes)
11.40am: Tadhg Maher (Gaelcholáiste Reachrann), (max 8 minutes)
11.50am: Fiona Ní Chonaill (Coláiste Chnoc na Labhráis), (max 8 minutes)
12.00pm Aiseolas óna Moltóirí
Category C – Music Groups
12.10pm: Ceoltóirí Cois Locha (Coláiste Muire), (max 8 minutes)
12.20pm: Ceoltóirí Feirste (Coláiste Feirste), (max 8 minutes)
12.30pm: Gaelcholáiste Reachrann (Gaelcholáiste Reachrann), (max 8 minutes)
12.40pm: Draíocht (Coláiste Chnoc na Labhráis), (max 8 minutes)
12.50pm: Aiseolas óna Moltóirí, (max 8 minutes)
Lunch 1.00i.n. – 2.00i.n.
Category D – Creative Dance (Individual)
1. 2.00pm: Caitríona Nic Réamoinn (Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara) (max 8 minutes)
2. 2.10pm: Sorcha Ní Mhuircheartaigh (Gaelcholáiste Choilm ) (max 8 minutes)
3. 2.20pm: Aiseolas ó na Moltóirí.
Category E – Creative Dance (Group)
2.30pm: Rinceoirí Choilm (Gaelcholáiste Choilm) (max 8 minutes)
2.40pm: Na Síofraigh (Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach) (max 8 minutes)
2.50pm: Rinceoirí Thuar Mhic Éadaigh (Coláiste Muire) (max 8 minutes)
3.00pm: Aiseolas ó na Moltóirí.
Category F – On-Stage Production
3.15pm: Na Seacht bPeacaí Marfacha (Coláiste Feirste), (max 15 minutes)
3.30pm: Aisteoirí Choilm (Gaelcholáiste Choilm), (max 15 minutes)
3.45pm: Bruscar (Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara), (max 15 minutes)
4.00pm: Aiseolas ó na Moltóirí.
Category G – Miscellaneous
1. 4.15pm: Aoife Ní Chaiside (Coláiste Feirste), (max 15 minutes)
2. 4.30pm: Mím Choilm (Gaelcholáiste Choilm), (max 15 minutes)
3. 4.45pm: Na Cailíní ag Canadh (Coláiste Chnoc na Labhráis), (max 15 minutes)
4. 5.00pm: Aiseolas ó na Moltóirí.
5.15pm: Announcement of overall winner.
Strategic Plan 2007-2009
April 4, 2007
In January 2007 our consultation process for the Draft Strategic Plan 2007-2009 completed.
We would like to thank all those who made submissions and who gave valuable feedback.
A reviewed Strategic Plan will be published soon.
Below is the original Draft Strategic Plan 2007-2009 (available currently only in Irish).
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. Draft Strategic Plan 2007-2009.
Development Officer Needed
March 21, 2007
Tá folúntas ag GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.
d’OIFIGEACH FORBARTHA
(ar chonradh 3 bliana)
Duine fuinniúil agus cumasach le sárscileanna idirphearsanta agus cumarsáide, maraon le hardchaighdeán Gaeilge labhartha agus scríofa atá de dhíth chun réimse oibre na heagraíochta i mbunú agus i mbuanú scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge ag an mbunleibhéal agus ag an iarbhunleibhéal a phleanáil agus a chur i gcrích ar ardchaighdeán. Ceadúnas tiomána iomlán ceadúnas iomlán agus teacht ar charr.
Scála Tuarastail: €29,152 – €46,253 (ag brath ar cháilíochtaí agus ar thaithí).
Is í GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. eagraíocht chomhordaithe na ngaelscoileanna bunleibhéil agus dara leibhéal. Is é an gaeloideachas an réimse oideachais is mó fáis agus forbartha in Éirinn le 30 bliain anuas agus tá GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. chun tosaigh san fhás agus san fhorbairt sin.
Foirm iarratais, sainchuntas agus critéir uilig an phoist le fáil ó
www.gaelscoileanna.ie nó blathnaid@gaelscoileanna.ie nó trí ghlaoch ar 0868050335.
Spriocdháta le haghaidh iarratais comhlánaithe: 5.00i.n. Dé hAoine, 13 Aibreán 2007
Ní ghlacfar le haon iarratais i ndiaidh an spriocdháta seo.
Centre For Irish-Language Education In Baile Bhúirne
March 13, 2007
A centre to support and develop Irish located in Baile Bhúirne
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. welcomes the announcement made by the Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin,TD and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív, TD, that the support initiative for Irish in Baile Bhúirne in Múscraí, West Cork will be commenced and implemented.
According to Mícheál Ó Broin, President of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO., this announcement is a step forward for the teaching of Irish and teaching through Irish. "It is very important for the Irish-medium sector to have such a service and resource available. It is significant that all the interested parties have a recognised role to play in this project. We hope this initiative will tackle the challenges ahead, especially in relation to teacher training and the provision of resources for Irish-medium education and for Irish as a subject".
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. also welcomes that this national resource will be under the auspices An Chomhairle Um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) and welcomes the promised increase in its budget which will add greatly to the resources available for the teaching of and through Irish.
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the co-ordinating body for schools teaching through the medium of Irish. It helps parents and local groups to set up new schools and supports the established all-Irish schools. There are 163 primary schools and 38 secondary schools currently providing education through the medium of Irish.
Further information:
Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin 086-8050335
Mícheál Ó Broin 087-9467700
Gaelcholáiste Bhun Chranncha Receives Recognition For September 2007
March 12, 2007
AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE DEMAND AND CONTINUOUS GROWTH OF THE IRISH-MEDIUM EDUCATION SECTOR.
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. are pleased that Gaelcholáiste Bhun Chranncha, Donegal is to receive grant recognition after satisfying the criteria led down by the Minister for Education and Science. This recognition comes into effect in September of this year, when the new all–Irish, co-educational secondary school will open its doors for the first time.
Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin, the Director of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. said that this decision comes as a result of the effective work of the founding committee, of the Donegal VEC and continuous support given by GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. She said, "Gaelcholáiste Bhun Cranncha, was a perfect example of the growth and development of the Irish-medium education sector and of the internationally accepted practice of immersion learning."
The new Gaelcholáiste is under the patronage of the Donegal VEC and it will serve the Inis Eoin area. Gaelcholáiste Bhun Cranncha is the fourth Irish-medium secondary school to receive recognition for the coming school year. A further 5 gaelscoileanna (primary level) are currently awaiting decisions on their applications for recognition from the Minister and the Department of Education and Science. The amount of new schools constantly being set up is a testament to the increased demand from the community and its knowledge of the benefits of bi-lingualism and immersion learning.
Mícheál Ó Broin, President of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO., welcomed the recent news of recognition for the new Gaelcholáiste in Buncrana. He said, "This new recognition is a positive sign for the future of the Irish-language in Inis Eoin. We are witnessing phenomenal growth in the Irish-medium education sector, which we hope will continue with the good will of the community, the hard work of the various patronages and founding committees and for our part, we in GAELSCOILEANNA TEO will offer as much support as we can to this growth and development. We also are grateful to the Department of Education and Science for their continued cooperation now and into the future in establishing and developing this school and every Irish-medium school."
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the coordinating body for Irish-medium schools. It helps parents and local groups to found new Irish-medium schools and assists schools already in existence. There are 163 primary and 38 post-primary schools that offer Irish-medium education.
Further Information:
Nóra Ní Loingsigh 01-477 3158
Mícheál Ó Broin 087-9467700
Ends
