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Guidance Note for Boards of Management

July 31, 2012

As you are aware Boards of Managements are obliged to operate Relevant Contracts Tax (RCT) and Value Added Tax (VAT) reverse charge in respect of a range of activities including Construction Projects, Summer Works, Emergency Works and Major Devolved Projects in addition to day to day Repairs.

The Revenue Commissioners have prepared a Guidance Note to assist Boards of Management with the operation of RCT and the VAT Reverse Charge.

The Guidance Note is available on the Revenue website at the following link: http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/rct/guidance-boards-rct-vat.pdf

The Guidance Note provides examples of the types of activities that fall under the definitions of “Construction Operations” as they may apply to Boards of Management. It also provides information on the operation of the VAT reverse charge and gives links to various pages on the Revenue website which will provide useful information to Boards of Management.

Tionscnamh Oidhreacht Teanga agus Deachaidrimh

July 31, 2012

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Tréaslaíonn GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. le Pobail agus Pátrúin na nIarbhunscoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge Nua

July 26, 2012

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA GRANTED PATRONGAE FOR NEW GAEL-CHOLÁISTÍ

July 26, 2012

The Department of Education & Skills announces An Foras Pátrúnachta as the patron of two new Irish-Medium secondary schools opening in Dublin in 2014.

Today, the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, has announced that An Foras Pátrúnachta has been granted patronage of two new Gael-Choláistí located in Balbriggan and Dundrum in Dublin.

Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, Ard Rúnaí of An Foras Pátrúnachta spoke about the highly anticipated announcement, “An Foras Pátrúnachta welcomes the decision that it has been granted patronage of 2 new Gael-Choláistí in Balbriggan and Dundrum. It is a fantastic achievement for the parents, founding committees and all those who have relentlessly driven the campaigns for the establishment of these Gael-Choláistí. As the patron, which was specifically established to promote Irish-Medium education, we are delighted that this process allowed us to illustrate the enormous demand from parents for the model we provide.”

Ó hEaghra acknowledged and thanked the Minister, the Department and its officials for their work throughout the process. He stated that there was a clear indication from the Department that the ever increasing demand for Irish-Medium Education needed to be catered for both at primary and secondary level. Ó hEaghra went on to say that “An Foras Pátrúnachta looks forward to working with the Department in further developing the provision of Irish-Medium Education at all levels.”

The campaign for patronage of the new Gael-Choláistí gathered a lot of public attention with a huge number of parents registering their support for the new schools. An Foras Pátrúnachta is looking forward to collaborating with the Coistí Bunaithe in planning and organising for the successful opening and establishment of the schools. Ó hEaghra continued, “The founding committees have spent the last few years dedicated to the campaign for establishing these Gael-Choláistí. Everyone who has been involved is due enormous gratitude and credit for their commitment to bringing Irish-Medium second-level schools to their areas.” Tadhg Ó Tuachaigh, Chairperson of the Coiste Bunaithe for Coláiste Ghlór na Mara in Balbriggan said, “It is great news for parents and children in the area that Irish-Medium education will be available from pre-school to the Leaving Certificate.”

An Foras Pátrúnachta is currently the patron of 61 primary schools and now 5 secondary schools. The two new Gael-Choláistí will be co-educational, Multidenominational schools with an Irish language ethos. Ó hEaghra commented on the patron’s mission for its schools, “It is of paramount importance to An Foras Pátrúnachta that all our schools provide the highest standard of education through the medium of Irish.”

An Foras Pátrúnachta has also been collaborating with the founding committee in Maynooth, on a campaign for a new Gael-Choláiste in the town. The patron made an extremely strong application for a Gael-Choláiste to the Department illustrating the enormous demand from over 600 parents. Although disappointed that the Department has not sanctioned the opening of a Gael-Choláiste, An Foras Pátrúnachta welcomes the Minister’s and Department’s recognition of the demand for Irish-Medium education. The Minister’s announcement that the new English-medium second-level school will open an Aonad with a view to developing an independent Gael-Choláiste will be some solace to the parents of the area. “Although An Foras Pátrúnachta does not agree with the concept of the Aonad, the patron welcomes the Minister’s announcement indicating that An Foras Pátrúnachta will act in consultation with Kildare VEC to create a satisfactory model that will develop into an independent Gael-Choláiste.” As the only patron body established specifically to provide Irish-Medium Education, An Foras Pátrúnachta will draw on the expertise and experience within our organisation to assist with the development of the Gael-Choláiste in Maynooth.
The new Gael-Choláistí will open in September 2014 with the exact location of the schools in the designated areas to be confirmed. Parents are advised to contact An Foras Pátrúnachta for any information on the new schools.

Further information:Caitríona Bairéad, An Foras Pátrúnachta :: caitriona@foras.ie :: 01-6294110 :: www.foras.ie

AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA is the largest patron of Irish medium schools in Ireland at both primary and secondary level. There are 61 primary schools and 3 secondary schools under its patronage. AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA is a patron of Irish-Medium schools that have a choice of a Catholic, Multidenominational and Interdenominational (Catholic / Protestant) ethos. The vision of AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA is to develop, strengthen and promote education through the medium of Irish throughout the country. AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA is recognized by the Department of Education and Science as a patronage system which is acceptable and appropriate for first and second level schools. AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA was founded in 1993 so that new gaelscoileanna opening in the coming years would have another choice with regard to patronage.
For more information: www.foras.ie :: @AFPatrunachta

Foras Pátrúnachta to act as patron for two new Gaelcholáistí

July 26, 2012

Two new Gaelcholáistí to open in Dundrum and Balbriggan in Dublin 2014 will have Irish language group an Foras Patrúnachta as a patron, according to details announced by Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn TD today.

The announcement was made as part of plans outlining the development and  patronage of fourteen new second level schools.

Most of the new second level schools are to open in the east of the country around the Dublin commuter belt but two new schools will open in Claregalway in Co. Galway and in the southern area of Cork city.

The Minister stated that he was “confident that the new schools, along with existing schools in each area, will mean that parents and students have real choice when it comes to deciding which school most reflect their own ethos”.

The new Gaelcholáiste in Balbriggan will be smaller than envisaged and will cater for 700-1000 pupils, after a strong preference was shown amongst parents for an  English medium Educate Together school as well. The Foras Pátrúnachta will serve as a patron for a new Gaelcholáiste in Dundrum.

A high level of demand for Irish medium education was expressed in Maynooth and an Irish language unit is expected to be established in the  new post-primary school in Maynooth or in an existing second-level school, upon consultation with An Foras Pátrúnachta.

GAELPORT.COM

Foras Pátrúnachta agus Coistí Gairmoideachais in iomaíocht

July 26, 2012

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Educate Together to run second level school

July 26, 2012

Multidenominational patron Educate Together will have responsibility for a secondary school for the first time.

Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn announced the patrons for 14 new post-primary schools yesterday. Educate Together will run a school in Blanchardstown, west Dublin, and will share patronage of a school in Drogheda, Co Louth, with Co Louth Vocational Education Committee (VEC).

Some eight other schools will also be under the care of VECs in Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Meath and Cork. Gaelscoileanna body An Foras Pátrúnachta will become patron to two schools, and the Church of Ireland and Le Chéile Schools Trust, a Catholic organisation, will have responsibility for one school each in Greystones, Co Wicklow, and Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, respectively. All 14 of the schools will be co-educational.

Groups that missed out on patronage included the Loreto Education Trust, which applied to open a school in Ashbourne, Co Meath, and the Marist Education Authority, which sought patronage in Dundalk, Co Louth.

Applications from The Edmund Rice Schools Trust in Drogheda, the Muslim Primary Education Board in Blanchardstown and the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Navan, Co Meath, were also turned down.

Four of the new schools, all VECs, will open in September 2013, and 10 will open the following September. Applications for school patronage closed in February. Patrons were asked for evidence of parental demand and plans for how the proposed schools would provide for extending or strengthening diversity of provision in each area.

There were 31 applicants.

The Department of Education assessed the applications, made recommendations and forwarded the assessments to the New Schools Establishment Group, which was set up by the Minister as an independent advisory body.

It examined and agreed with conclusions reached by the department, and wrote to the Minister in June this year with its recommendations. Mr Quinn made the final decision on patronage.

Yesterday the Minister said that in deciding on patronage he “was particularly conscious of taking into account the clear parental demand for plurality and diversity of patronage”.

“I am particularly pleased that Educate Together will be patron in one school and co-patron in a second school, given that Educate Together was officially recognised by me as a second-level patron just one year ago,” he said.

“I am also pleased that for the first time in a generation a new Catholic and a new Church of Ireland voluntary secondary school are to open. This demonstrates clearly that I and the department are committed to diversity of ethos and respect for parental choice.”

He said he was confident the new schools, alongside existing schools in each area, would mean parents and students would have “real choice”.

The Minister’s announcement was widely welcomed by the appointed patrons. Paul Rowe, chief executive of Educate Together said the need for innovation at second-level has never been more urgent.

“These new schools will nurture critical and creative thinking and ethical citizenship – developing the knowledge, skills and attitudes students need to live, learn and work in modern, globalised societies,” he said.

Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough, The Most Rev Dr Michael Jackson said the Minister’s decision on the Greystones school “demonstrated a recognition that faith-based schools still have a role to play in Irish education”.

Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, chief executive of An Foras Pátrúnachta, said their appointment as patrons was “a fantastic achievement” for the parents, founding committees and all those who had “relentlessly” campaigned.

And Co Dublin VEC chief executive Dr Marie Griffin said their new community college in Lusk would be among the most modern in the State.

NEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND THEIR PATRON BODIES

  • Blanchardstown West, Dublin 15: Educate Together (September 2014)
  • Drogheda, Co Louth: joint patronage of Co Louth VEC and Educate Together (September 2014)
  • Mulhuddart, Dublin 15: Le Chéile Schools Trust (September 2014)
  • Greystones, Co Wicklow: Church of Ireland (September 2014)
  • Lusk, Co Dublin: Co Dublin VEC (September 2013)
  • Claregalway, Co Galway: Co Galway VEC (September 2013)
  • Naas, Co Kildare: Co Kildare VEC (September 2013)
  • Navan, Co Meath: Co Meath VEC (September 2013)
  • Cork City – South Suburbs/ Carrigaline: Co Cork VEC (September 2014)
  • Maynooth, Co Kildare: Co Kildare VEC (September 2014)
  • Dundalk, Co Louth: Co Louth VEC (September 2014)
  • Ashbourne, Co Meath: Co Meath VEC (September 2014)
  • Balbriggan, Co Dublin: An Foras Pátrúnachta (September 2014)
  • Dundrum, Co Dublin: An Foras Pátrúnachta (September 2014)

New school patrons announced

July 26, 2012

The patrons for 14 new secondary school were announced by Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn this morning, including one in West Dublin under the responsibility of Educate Together.
It is the first time the multi-denominational patron has been given responsibility for a post-primary school. The school will be based in Blanchardstown. Educate Together will also share the patronage of another school in Drogheda Co Louth with the County Louth Vocational Education Committee (VECs).
A second post-primary school will also come under the patronage of the same VEC and four other VECs in Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Meath and Cork will act as patrons to eight schools.
A Church of Ireland patronage post-primary will be opened in Greystones, Co Wicklow and Le Chéile Schools Trust, a Catholic organisation, will have responsibility for a school in Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. Two new schools in Balbriggan and Dundrum in Dublin will be under the patronage of Gaelscoileanna patronage body An Foras Pátrúnachta.
Four of the new schools, all VEC, will open in September 2013 and 10 will open the following September.
Making the announcement, Mr Quinn said in deciding on patronage he “was particularly conscious of taking into account the clear parental demand for plurality and diversity of patronage”.
“I am particularly pleased that Educate Together will be patron in one school and co-patron in a second school, given that Educate Together was officially recognised by me as a second level patron just one year ago,” he said.
“I am also pleased that for the first time in a generation a new Catholic and a new Church of Ireland voluntary secondary school are to open. This demonstrates clearly that I and the Department are committed to diversity of ethos and respect for parental choice.”

IRISH TIMES

Patrons of new secondary schools announced

July 26, 2012

There will be 12 schools that will be run by secular bodies, while religious organisations will run the other two.

Four of the new schools will open in September 2013 and the remainder will open the following year.

The new schools are in response to a massive population surge.

The VECs have been awarded patronage of the bulk of the new schools.

Irish language body An Foras Pátrúnachta will run two, both in Co Dublin suburbs.

Educate Together has been awarded patronage of one school in Dublin’s Blanchardstown, but it will also share patronage of a new school in Drogheda with the local VEC.

The education body, which currently acts as patron only at primary level, has expressed delight with the news.

The religious schools sector is also happy.

For the first time in more than 20 years, two new religious secondary schools will open.

There will be a Catholic school in Mulhuddart in Dublin and a Church of Ireland school in Greystones, Co Wicklow.

RTE.IE

Minister Quinn announces patronage of 14 new Post-Primary schools to be established in 2013 and 2014

July 25, 2012

The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., today announced his decisions on the patronage of new post-primary schools to be established in 2013 and 2014.

The successful patrons are:

  • Blanchardstown West, Dublin 15 – Educate Together
  • Drogheda, Co. Louth – Joint patronage County Louth VEC and Educate Together
  • Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 – Le Chéile Schools Trust
  • Greystones, Co. Wicklow – Church of Ireland
  • Lusk, Co. Dublin – County Dublin VEC
  • Claregalway, Co. Galway – County Galway VEC
  • Naas, Co. Kildare – County Kildare VEC
  • Navan, Co. Meath – County Meath VEC
  • Maynooth, Co. Kildare – County Kildare VEC
  • Dundalk, Co. Louth – County Louth VEC
  • Ashbourne, Co. Meath – County Meath VEC
  • *Balbriggan, Co. Dublin – An Foras Pátrúnachta
  • *Dundrum, Co. Dublin – An Foras Pátrúnachta
  • *CorkCity – South Suburbs/ Carrigaline – County Cork VEC

*These schools will be Gaelcholáistaí providing instruction through the medium of Irish

Announcing the patronage of the new schools, Minister Quinn said, “In making the decisions on the patronage of these new schools I was particularly conscious of taking into account the clear parental demand for plurality and diversity of patronage.  The successful patrons include those of a Catholic ethos, Church of Ireland ethos, multi-denominational and Gaelcholáistaí.”

“I am particularly pleased that Educate Together will be patron in one school and co-patron in a second school, given that ET was officially recognised by me as a second level patron just one year ago. I am also pleased that for the first time in a generation a new Catholic and a new Church of Ireland voluntary secondary school are to open.  This demonstrates clearly that I and the Department are committed to diversity of ethos and respect for parental choice.”

“I am confident that these new schools, alongside the existing schools in each area, will mean that parents and students have real choice when it comes to deciding which school most reflects their own ethos.”

Today’s announcement is the culmination of the process which began in June 2011 when the Minister announced that 20 new post-primary schools were to be established up to 2017 across a number of locations to cater for increasing pupil numbers.

At that time the Minister also announced new criteria and arrangements for the recognition of the new schools. The arrangements included the establishment of a New Schools Establishment Group, an independent advisory group, to advise the Minister on the patronage of the new schools following its consideration of a report prepared by Department officials. The New Schools Establishment Group reported to the Minister at the end of June.

Patrons were asked to provide evidence of parental demand when making an application for a new school. In addition, the criteria used in deciding on patronage included how the proposed schools under the respective patrons would provide for extending or strengthening diversity of provision in each area, having regard to the views of parents.

The Minister expressed his thanks to the members of the New Schools Establishment Group for their valuable input to the process. Minister Quinn said, “I initiated the revised system for the establishment of new schools and the appointment of the school patron so that it would be an objective and transparent process. The role of the New Schools Establishment Group is critical to achieving these aims and I want to thank them for their work in this area.”

Department officials will shortly contact each of the patron bodies in regard to the logistics of the establishment of these new schools.

Four new post-primary schools will open in September 2013, all of which will be under the patronage of the local Vocational Educational Committee (VEC).

Ten new post-primary schools will open in September 2014.  Of these, four will be under VEC patronage, one will be under the patronage of Le Chéile Schools Trust, two will be under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta, one will be under the patronage of the Church of Ireland, one will be under the Patronage of Educate Together and one school will be under the joint patronage of a VEC and Educate Together.

In the case of both Maynooth, Co. Kildare and Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, the Department noted the high level of parental demand identified as part of this process for alternative language provision in these areas.  In light of this, the Department will be making provision to cater for this alternative demand in both of these areas in the medium term.

The report of the New Schools Establishment Group to the Minister can be found at http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/Establishing-a-New-School/New-Primary-Schools/?pageNumber=2. Minister Quinn accepted the recommendations of the Group in all cases.

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