Deireadh leis an tSamhail Nua Mhaoinithe agus Aitheantas do Riachtanais Earnáil na Gaelscolaíochta
July 3, 2012
Bainisteoir / Stiúrthóir Naíonra
July 2, 2012
Cúntóir riachtanas speisialta, Co. Dhún na nGall
July 2, 2012
Foras na Gaeilge ditches funding plan
July 2, 2012
Cross-Border Irish-language body Foras na Gaeilge has abandoned its controversial “new funding model” following a board meeting in Gaoth Dobhair, Co Donegal.
The body said on Friday it would not proceed with the “new funding model” but would instead try to find an alternative solution to “restructuring” the Irish-language sector while “co-operating” with other language groups.
The announcement marks a major reversal in policy for Foras na Gaeilge, which had been promoting the proposal as an alternative to the core funding of Irish organisations.
It wanted to replace the current practice of giving financial aid to established organisations to carry out work and introduce a scheme-based system which would have seen interested parties tender for projects.
Language-planning experts and the groups affected had criticised the plan as unworkable.
Foras na Gaeilge has now decided to give grants of €6.7 million to groups until June 2013 while it looks at other possibilities to replace the abandoned funding arrangement.
www.irishtimes.com
An Chomhdháil welcomes the abolition of New Funding Model
July 2, 2012
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge welcomes the decision by the Board of Foras na Gaeilge to abolish the new funding model which was proposed for the Irish language voluntary sector. The decision was announced after a Board meeting in Gaoth Dobhair on Friday.
Currently 19 Irish language organisations receive core-funding from Foras na Gaeilge. The current core-funding model is in effect since the foundation of Foras na Gaeilge in 1999, when the funding of eighteen organisations was transferred to Foras na Gaeilge.
The new funding model involved a portfolio of competitive schemes based on various criteria.
Last month, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht published a report on the New Funding Model for the Irish language voluntary sector.
The Joint Committee decided to commission a report having heard submissions from the organisations and from Foras na Gaeilge. The report stresses the importance of core-funding to provide important services to the Irish language community on an ongoing basis. The report also states that funding should not be based on a competitive schemes model.
The report from the Oireachtas Committee followed a recent motion in the Northern Irish Assembly which expressed concern as to the effect the new funding model would have on Irish language organisations, and concern relating to the public consultation process.
Speaking about the Board decision, Director of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Kevin De Barra said: “Too much time has been wasted over the past number of years, discussing a funding model which was destined for failure from the outset. Foras na Gaeilge and the organisations must now work in partnership together, with input from language planners, and experts in change management, to ascertain the most effective and efficient manner of funding the sector, to maintain and improve services to the Irish language community”.
Press release by Comhdháil Násiúnta na Gaeilge
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge appoints new Director
July 2, 2012
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Kevin De Barra to the position of Director. An Chomhdháil acts as an umbrella body for 24 Irish language voluntary organisations. Mr. De Barra will succeed Mr. Pádraig Mac Criostail who held the role since 2007.
Kevin De Barra hails from An Spidéal, in Conamara. He attended NUI, Galway where he was awarded a Commerce Degree, as well as a Masters in Business Studies and Marketing, and also a Diploma in Irish, and a Diploma in Translation Skils. Recently he completed a Masters in Applied Irish with DIT.
Mr. De Barra has been working with Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge sin 2007, firstly as Marketing and Communications Manager, then as Secretary to the Board, and since February of this year as Acting Director.
Prior to working with An Chomhdháil, De Barra worked as an International Marketing Manager with QTEK Manufacturing Ltd. whose headquarters are based in Galway.
Speaking on the appointment of Mr. De Barra, President of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa siad: “This appointment will allow An Chomhdháil to give leadership and direction to the Irish language voluntary sector in the challenging times ahead. Kevin De Barra has unique skills and experience which will greatly benefit An Chomhdháil, its member organisations and the Irish language speaking community”.
A Press release by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge
Revealed: The 18 Northern Ireland schools which will share £173m cash pot
June 29, 2012
Eighteen schools will receive new facilities as part of a £173 million investment, Education Minister John O’Dowd has said.
The money includes payments for five special schools. A total of 17 of the schools will be rebuilt.
Foyle College in Derry and Victoria Park primary school in Belfast are among those granted funding, Mr O’Dowd added.
He said: “This will be good news for the pupils and communities directly affected. A world-class educational environment will help us deliver the improvements in educational outcomes we are working so hard to achieve.”
It is the first money made available for major projects since August 2010 when capital spending was frozen. Some schools have been waiting years for urgent rebuilding or refurbishment.
Plans were cancelled while administrators decided where new schools were needed.
Almost two years ago, then education minister Caitriona Ruane released £23 million for 13 schools.
All those projects have been built or are nearing completion.
Mr O’Dowd said there was a clear need for considerable investment in infrastructure.
He added: “The need for investment far exceeds the funding available. While I would like to be in a position to fund everything that needs doing now, I must work within the budget available. This means difficult decisions on future investment plans.”
He said the schools were identified as the highest priority projects following a rigorous selection process.
“No-one visiting our special schools could remain unmoved by the needs of the children attending these facilities. I would dearly like to be able to advance every deserving case immediately,” he added.
“However, within the limits of the funding available to me, I am determined that we make progress with a number of cases at this time.”
In addition to plans for St Gerard’s Resource Centre in west Belfast to occupy a former school and Arvalee Special School to be part of the redevelopment of the former Lisanelly army camp in Omagh, the list of projects to proceed is:
- Colaiste Feirste, Belfast – £11.9 million
- St Clare’s Convent & St Colman’s Abbey Primary School, Newry – £6 million
- St Joseph’s Convent Primary School, Newry – £5.8 million
- Dromore Central Primary School – £11.4 million
- Eglinton Primary School – £2.5 million
- Tannaghmore Primary School, Lurgan – £6 million
- Ebrington Controlled Primary School, Derry – £4.5 million
- Foyle College, Derry – £19.6 million
- St Teresa’s Primary School, Lurgan – £3 million
- Victoria Park Primary School, Belfast – £4.9 million
- Enniskillen Model Primary School – £5.7 million
- St Mary’s Primary School, Banbridge – £5.1 million
- Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagain, Belfast – £2.5 million
- Belmont House Special School, Derry – £7.4 million
- Rossmar Special School, Limavady – £6.4 million
- Castle Tower, Ballymena – £21.8 million.
Alongside the immediate commencement of these new builds, Mr O’Dowd announced funding to progress a number of additional projects through the planning process.
This will allow building work to commence more quickly when future funding becomes available. In the autumn the minister will unveil a further list of projects to be taken forward.
Mr O’Dowd also announced the establishment of a new Schools Enhancement Programme.
This programme will make available funding of up to £4 million for any individual project refurbishing or extending existing schools. Priority will be given to those supporting amalgamation or rationalisation.
Initially up to £20 million will be available for this programme in 2013-14 with the option of increasing this in 2014-15 depending on the number and quality of proposals.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
INTO task force seeks meeting with minister on small schools
June 29, 2012
Donegal teachers have contributed to an Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) task force report that seeks to protect two-, three- and four-teacher schools from cuts that will hit small rural schools particularly hard.
Michael Weed, a teacher at Meenagowan National School in Lettermacaward, and a member of the INTO Central Executive Committee for Donegal and Leitrim said the task force recommendations look to protect Gaeltacht, minority-faith and other smaller schools.
“We’re not looking for a total reversal of schedules, but we’re saying staffing schedules should not be the only criteria by which a school loses a teacher,” said Mr. Weed, who also served on the task force.
He said the INTO will contact the Department of Education and Skills to seek a meeting with Minister Ruairi Quinn, TD, to discuss the recommendations.
The task force presented their 10 recommendations to 700 delegates at a special INTO Congress on Saturday, June 23rd, in the Aviva in Dublin. The task force has been meeting on the matter since Easter.
The report comes in response to government proposals to increase the number of pupils a national school must enrol to maintain current staffing levels. The INTO recommendations seek to prevent changes in the staffing schedule being implemented in schools with three or four teachers.
In addition, the INTO believes that a minimum enrolment should not on its own determine whether a school appoints or retains a second teacher. Among the other factors the INTO believe should be considered are: geographical remoteness, distance from other schools of the same ethos, special consideration for schools serving Gaeltacht communities and the fabric of the school building.
Delegates to the special INTO Congress, in discussions that lasted more than three hours, also discussed possible arrangements for incentivised voluntary amalgamations, shared services between smaller schools and the potential engagement with the department in the pursuit of the staffing objectives.
This is an issue affecting small schools across the country, not solely in Donegal. Mr. Weed said one of the delegates was the principal of a four-teacher school in Dublin, indicating that even urban areas are home to small schools.
“There aren’t many, but there are some,” he said. Still, the task force member said Donegal is particularly hard hit.
“We’re not putting it out as PR or propaganda,” Mr. Weed said. “Donegal is going to be badly hit.” The enrolment proposals increase each year for three years, so the impact on small schools will continue to be felt.
“Any time a family leaves or emigrates from a small school or rural community. The numbers will drop again,” he said www.donegaldemocrat.ie
A parental poll on school patronage
June 29, 2012
Sir, –
Regarding the proposed new school patronage, I am very surprised our Minister for Education has decided that no public meeting will be allowed and that town hall meetings and other activi ties which might whip up a “media frenzy” are to be prohibited (Seán Flynn, Home News June 21st).
How can a Minister deny parents their right to meet and discuss such an important matter? It would appear that he believes parents are not capable of calm and rational discussion concerning their own children.
It is sad to think that parents are held in such low esteem by our Minister for Education. I would have expected that this type of diktat is more reminiscent of former communist regimes rather than a modern democracy.
It would also be very interesting to hear from the present school patrons as to whether or not they agree with this approach.
– Yours, etc,
Gerry Curran,
Manor Kilbride, Blessington, Co Wicklow
www.irishtimes.com
Stiúrthóir Cúnta le haghaidh Naíonra
June 28, 2012
