Anger over decision to omit Gaelscoil from building list
March 16, 2012
PARENTS AND school management at a long-established Gaelscoil in Galway have condemned the Government decision to omit it from the latest school building programme.
The board of management and parents’ committee have promised a “campaign of action” to reverse the decision.
Galway West TD Brian Walsh of Fine Gael has also questioned why the Department of Education plans to build a new primary school in Knocknacarra, one of the city’s largest surburbs, while the existing nearby Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh has had its extension shelved.
Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, an all-Irish, Catholic co-educational primary, was established in a rented house in the then developing western suburb of Knocknacarra on the Galway Gaeltacht boundary in 1993. It eventually moved into a purpose-built eight-class school in 1999. However, more than half of the 460 pupils on its roll have spent much, if not all, of their school life in prefabs, due to its rapid expansion. The school secured approval for an extension in 2009, and the Department of Education had already paid for architectural designers and quantity surveyors for the project.
When the department signalled inclusion of a third primary school for the suburb, it attracted patronage applications from Educate Together, City of Galway VEC, Lifeways Ireland Ltd and An Foras Pátrúnachta. Mr Walsh said that “under no circumstances should the development of a new school proceed until the needs of existing primary schools in the area were addressed”. He said he had contacted Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn, who had agreed that officials from his department would meet local school principals to discuss the demographic needs.
“Our 460 children, and teaching staff have patiently endured overcrowded and substandard accommodation for far too long and this unjust decision to shelve our building project at the 11th hour and without warning defies belief,” said Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh principal Dairíona Nic an Iomaire yesterday.
The department said that the five-year programme was focused on meeting demographic needs, and the Galway city area showed a requirement of 47 additional mainstream classrooms by 2017. This increase was concentrated on Knocknacarra in the west and Doughiska in the east, which was provided with a school in 2010. A new Knocknacarra school in 2013 would cater for extra demand, it said. It said the building project for Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh was at an advanced stage of architectural planning, with detailed design approval issued by it on January 10th, 2012, and it would “continue to advance this project”.
IRISH TIMES
Taispeántais den scoth i mBunscoil an Iúir
March 15, 2012
Rivals rally over small school cuts
March 15, 2012
Sporting rivalries are being abandoned as Cork and Kerry communities plan a joint protest over cuts to small school teacher numbers at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.
Tomás Ó Sé and Noel O’Leary, past pupils of gaeltacht schools, support the protest, which sees the Save our Small Schools groups in both counties join forces with Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta, which represents schools in gaeltacht areas.
They are campaigning against changes to staffing levels in schools of four teachers or less, which will see over 70 schools lose a staff member in September.
The group will gather outside the grounds, where the Cork-Kerry national football league clash will be preceded by the Cork-Galway hurling tie which throws in at 12.45pm.
IRISH EXAMINER
Cabaret Craiceáilte on tour – with some of the previous Scléip winners!
March 14, 2012
Puball Gaeilge @ an Lá Mór Féile Phádraig
March 14, 2012
Further information on Facebook
Ag tógáil clainne
March 14, 2012
40 Irish-medium schools on the department’s list of building projects for the next five years – but disappointment for 27% of Irish-medium schools at primary level and 38% at post-primary level still lacking permanent accommodation
March 14, 2012
“We welcome the Minister for Education and Skills’ announcement concerning new school accommodation to be developed in the period 2012-2015. This will create a favourable learning environment for the 40 Irish-medium schools amongst the 275 mentioned on Ruairí Quinn’s list”, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. President, Máirín Ní Chéileachair stated today. “These schools have had huge obstacles to overcome in recent years in their fight for better conditions for their children and we wish the pupils, staff and parents every success in this new era”.
The announcement came as a huge disappointment, however, to the 27% of primary schools and 38% of post-primary schools teaching through Irish that are still without permanent accommodation and are not on any of the Department’s lists. These schools are left with little hope of improvement in their accommodation.
“There has been an ongoing accommodation crisis in the Irish-medium education sector for years now” said Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, CEO of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. “60% of Irish-medium primary schools established in the last 25 years are currently in temporary accommodation – that’s without taking into account other schools that have grown since they moved into permanent accommodation and now have part of the school housed in temporary accommodation. It’s unacceptable that schools are left without any guarantee from the Department that appropriate accommodation will be provided for them. The Department’s new development plan covers a period of 5 years – too long to wait for schools that have not been included in this plan. This will result in some schools having no choice but to close, their enrolment numbers having fallen due to their poor accommodation”.
Among those who have been left out of the plan are 7 schools that have been waiting more than 20 years for permanent accommodation, and the Minister’s announcement of the investment plan worth €1.5 billion was a serious blow to them. “These school communities feel that they are being completely ignored by the Department and that an injustice is being done to their children” said ní Ghréacháin. “The temporary accommodation arrangements in place in these schools make it impossible for them to develop, they give rise to health and safety concerns and they have a huge impact on the children’s experience of education”.
Temporary accommodation arrangements also have a huge impact on the Department of Education’s budget. The Department is paying rent on inappropriate accommodation, often in dilapidated prefabs, where the money could be better spent on building projects and investment in the future of our education system. These temporary accommodation arrangements need to come to an end and the Department needs to be put under pressure to provide healthy learning environments for students.
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is seeking an urgent meeting with the Forward Planning Unit of the Department of Education to discuss the conditions in these schools and to demand that priority be given to addressing the accommodation crisis in Irish-medium schools with permanent recognition in temporary accommodation, so that these schools are not left to suffer as they have for too many years now.
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the national coordinating body for Irish-medium schools at primary and post-primary level. It provides assistance and support to parents and local communities who wish to found a school and it supports existing Irish-medium schools in their development.
Note:
The Department of Education’s plan for school accommodation are available on www.education.ie.
The list of Irish-medium schools included in the Department of Education’s plan is available here.
Below is a list of Irish-medium schools not included in the Department of Education’s plans for accommodation:
Schools established in the 1980s that are still without permanent accommodation:
1. Gaelscoil Dhonncha Rua, Sionna, 1984
2. Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers, Corcaigh, 1984
3. Scoil Chaitlín Maude, Baile Átha Cliath, 1985
4. Gaelscoil Sheoirse Clancy, Luimneach, 1986
5. Gaelscoil Uileog de Búrca, Clár Chlainne Mhuiris, 1989
6. Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí, Trá Lí, 1989 (Post-primary)
Schools established in the 1990s that are still without permanent accommodation:
1. Gaelscoil Sairséal, Luimneach, 1990
2. Gaelscoil Uí Choimín, Cill Rois, 1991
3. Gaelscoil Dhochtúir Uí Shúilleabháin, An Sciobairín, 1993
4. Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail, Lios Tuathail, 1993
5. Gaelscoil na Camóige, Baile Átha Cliath, 1993
6. Gaelscoil Chluain Meala, Cluain Meala, 1994
7. Gaelscoil Dhroichead na Banndan, Droichead na Banndan, 1995
8. Gaelscoil Phádraig, Baile Breac, Co. Átha Cliath, 1995
9. Gaelscoil Eois, Cluain Eois, 1995
10. Gaelscoil Bhreifne, An Cabhán, 1995
11. Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré, Sligeach, 1996
12. Gaelscoil na Bóinne, Baile Átha Troim, 1996
13. Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna, Baile Átha Cliath, 1996
14. Gaelscoil Thulach na nÓg, Dún Búinne, 1998
15. Gaelscoil Charraig na Siúire, Carraig na Siúire, 1998
16. Gaelscoil na gCeithre Maol, Béal an Átha, 1998
17. Gaelscoil Phort Laoise, Port Laoise, 1998
18. Gaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí, Dún na nGall, 1999
19. Gaelscoil Bhun Cranncha, Bun Chranncha, 1999
20. Coláiste Ráithín, Brí Chualann, 1991 (Post-primary)
21. Coláiste Pobail Osraí, Cill Chainnigh, 1991 (Post-primary)
22. Coláiste Daibhéad, Corcaigh, 1993 (Post-primary)
Schools established in the 2000s that are still without permanent accommodation:
1. Gaelscoil de hÍde, Ros Comáin, 2000
2. Gaelscoil Chois Feabhail, Bun an Phobail, 2001
3. Gaelscoil Éirne, Béal Átha Seannaigh, 2002
4. Gaelscoil Mhúscraí, An Bhlárna, 2002
5. Gaelscoil an tSlí Dála, Buiríos Mór Osraí, 2005
6. Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin, Baile Átha Cliath, 2005
7. Gaelscoil an Choillín, An Mhuileann gCearr, 2006
8. Gaelscoil na Lochanna, Baile Choimín, 2006
9. Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil, Gleann Maghair, 2006
10. Gaelscoil Chionn tSáile, Cionn tSáile, 2007
11. Gaelscoil na bhFilí, Gort Inse Guaire, 2007
12. Gaelscoil Chluainín, Cluainín Uí Ruairc, 2007
13. Gaelscoil Lorgan, Baile na Lorgan, 2008
14. Gael-Choláiste Chill Dara, 2003 (Post-primary)
15. Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, Luimneach, 2006 (Post-primary)
16. Gaelcholáiste na Mara, An tInbhear Mór, 2006 (Post-primary)
17. Meánscoil Gharman, 2006 (Post-primary)
18. Gael-Choláiste Phort Láirge, 2007 (Post-primary)
19. Gaelcholáiste Chineál Eoghain, Bun Chranncha, 2007 (Post-primary)
40 scoil lán-Ghaeilge san áireamh i bplean tógála an Rialtais
March 13, 2012
Five-year plan gets a guarded welcome
March 13, 2012
A €1.5bn Government plan to build or extend 275 schools has been given a guarded welcome.
However, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn’s five-year school building plan was also the subject of complaints of ‘spin’ and claims he was repackaging old announcements of some projects that are already under way.
Among the projects to be funded between now and 2016 are:
* 106 new schools at primary level.
* 65 large extensions to existing primary schools.
* 43 new second-level schools.
* 49 large extensions to second-level schools.
* eight new special schools and extensions to four special schools.
The 275 schools concerned include the 40 primary and second-level schools which Mr Quinn said would be set up in the next few years to meet demand because of growing populations, mostly in Dublin and surrounding counties.
By 2018, the number of children at school is expected to grow by 45,000 at primary level to more than 550,000, and from 351,000 to 376,000 at second level.
“We have to ensure every child growing up in Ireland can access a physical school place,” said Mr Quinn.
“Our programme unveiled today means that schools and parents will be able to plan much better for their children’s education at a time when enrolments at both primary and second level are rising dramatically”.
The 275 projects will cost €1.5bn of the €2bn to be spent on schools up to 2016, and Mr Quinn says this will create 18,000 jobs, including 3,000 indirect jobs.
The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) praised the minister and his department, saying it was the type of investment needed to get the sector working again.
However, it also warned that fairer tender guidelines must be set to ensure most contractors are eligible to compete for the work.
“We don’t want to see a situation arise where many Irish contractors are not allowed to even tender for these projects,” said CIF director general Tom Parlon.
“There is a very strict tendering process in place for school building. It does not help the economy if these building projects start to go to construction companies from outside of the State. That will not provide a boost to employment in the Irish construction sector.”
Fianna Fáil education spokesman Brendan Smith said many of the schools listed as “new” projects had already been announced and were at an advanced stage of planning or construction.
The €430m being spent this year includes building work beginning on 56 schools already announced in December. This year’s fund is down from €500m last year and the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) said the withdrawal of funding for repairs and maintenance will mean schools will find it hard to maintain buildings to an acceptable standard.
The union said the department’s claim that the plan would result in 106 new primary schools was confusing, as just 17 brand new schools would be built and the other projects were new buildings for schools operating in prefabs or dilapidated accommodation.
“Many will still have to endure unsatisfactory buildings for several more years,” said INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan.
“However, there are many more schools in need of urgent upgrade which are not covered, and parents and teachers will want to know when those buildings will be addressed.”
IRISH EXAMINER
Joy as pupils get to wave goodbye to prefabs
March 13, 2012
Pupils, parents and staff of an East Cork gaelscoil cheered the news that work should begin on their long-awaited new school building within three years.
Although the project is listed as going to construction in 2014 or 2015, it is a welcome commitment for all concerned at Gaelscoil Mhainistir na Chorann in Midleton.
Principal Máiréad Uí Fhloinn, said they were delighted to finally see a commitment in writing on the Department of Education website. The school has been operating from the Midleton Community Centre and prefab classrooms alongside it since 1999.
“We will have to get through the next few years in the space we have and with increasing enrolments, but we’re hopeful that things will be moved forward speedily,” she said.
The 389-pupil school has 14 teachers and a number of special needs teachers, but growing interest from local families will see it become a 20-teacher school next September.
Ms Uí Fhloinn said the department expects it will become a 24-classroom school in the next few years. “There are still some site options, but we have a commitment now and the school board and parents’ association will be keeping the pressure on to ensure the commitment is met.
“We have been here since 1999 and we’ve had a lot of setbacks down the years, so we’re looking at this very positively,” she said.
The news was mixed for a number of Cork schools, including St Angela’s College in the city centre where planning permission was granted late last year for an extension and refurbishment first promised in 1999.
The €10m project has been listed to begin construction in 2015 or 2016, which local minister of state Kathleen Lynch said would provide a campus to be proud of and much-needed construction jobs.
Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn’s controversial project on the Tank Field in Mayfield, has been pencilled in for building work to begin next year.
The granting of planning for the 16-classroom school by An Bord Pleanála in December was greeted with disappointment by some local residents, concerned about the loss of the field as a public amenity, after city councillors had voted against rezoning for the project last July.
IRISH EXAMINER
