Hundreds gather at Dáil for protest against small school cuts
February 3, 2012
HUNDREDS OF PARENTS, teachers and their supporters have gathered outside Leinster House tonight to protest against planned staff cuts in smaller schools.
One demonstrator estimated that as many as 1,500 people had travelled for the demonstration, which was addressed by the president of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation Noreen Flynn.
Flynn hit out at proposed changes to the way teachers are allocated to smaller schools, which she said would result in large increases in class sizes.
“It is not a case of one child extra per class but five or six additional children per class,” she said, adding that the cuts would take place “in classrooms where teachers are already teaching two, three or four class groups in the same room along with special needs children.”
Protester Terri Brosnan, who had travelled with other parents from Dunsany National School, Co Meath, told TheJournal.ie she believed around 1,500 people attended the protest.
She said the cuts were a “direct attack” on the schools which “can least afford it”. “I have children in a small rural school, we have 56 pupils,” she said. “With the cost of petrol I would be seriously out of pocket if we had to travel elsewhere.”
There were also heated scenes inside the Dáil as TDs debated a Fianna Fáil motion on small schools.
Opposition and independent deputies slated the cuts. Wexford TD Mick Wallace said many villages had already lost their shops, post offices and pubs, and asked: “What will be left of rural Ireland?”
But Government representatives defended the measures. Labour’s Michael McNamara said the proposed reductions were far less drastic than those which had been introduced by Fianna Fáil in his own Clare constituency.
THEJOURNAL.IE
Agóid na scoileanna Gaeltachta
February 3, 2012
Deireadh le Díospóireachtaí Ghael-Linn?
February 3, 2012
NCCA Announce Full-Time Post
February 2, 2012
The NCCA have announced a full-time post for an Irish Education Officer. This position remains vacant, following the NCCA’s open competition in the Autumn. The original application form and information booklet can be downloaded from the links below.
Anyone who may be interested, can complete the application form and email it to Morgan Lockhart (morgan.lockhart@ncca.ie) by 5pm on Friday, February 24th.
The interviews will be held at the beginning of March.
Queries can be directed to Áine Armstrong Farrell at 067-8680166.
ICT sa Bhunscoil
February 1, 2012
Demonstration outside the Dáil, 6pm, February 1st
February 1, 2012
Small and rural schools are planning a demonstration outside the Dáil on February 1st at 6pm to protest against the cuts announced in the most recent Budget. Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta would be grateful to anyone who has an hour to spare to come to Kildare Street and show their support for the campaign. Further information is available on their Facebook page.
Glór Uachtar Tíre ag neartú na Gaeilge i nDeisceart an Dúin
February 1, 2012
‘Deireadh’ le caint
February 1, 2012
BEO Competition!
January 31, 2012
Win €5,000 worth of computer equipment to help your school run a BEO event and be the school that promotes the best ROCK SHOW in the country!
This year BEO entered a National Innovation competition which allowed them to develop a business plan. This involved developing a website www.beoireland.com to help other schools host similar events and thus the idea of holding a nationwide Comórtas BEO was born. To date BEO have hosted many of Irelands top bands, More Than Conquerors, The Wonder Villains, Dirty 9’s and Scuba Dice to name but a few. What a great experience for any school band to get to perform at a gig where some of these tops bands will be playing.
Every year sees a new pool of talented youth bringing fresh ideas to BEO, coupled with the fact that these new members have the support of veteran BEO members in each of the schools can only see BEO going from strength to strength in the future. The website is a great resource to have for any student thinking of bringing BEO to their school and as mentioned on the site, mentors will be assigned to each school entering the competition. Maybe your school will see the next Jim Aiken emerging.
All details for Comórtas BEO can be found on www.beoireland.com.
The schedule for the competition is as follows:
• Applications to be received by Feb 3rd via the website.
• Each school will prepare a 7 min video of their event to be forwarded to BEO by April 23rd.
• Six finalists will be announced on 27th April. All finalists will receive a grant of €500 to help cover their expenses on the day of the final.
• The final will be held on May 11th at the Regional Cultural Centre with each school having to present their entry to the judging panel. BEO’s first national champions will be announced at a special gig that evening and where winner will be presented with the amazing prize of €5,000 worth of computer equipment for their school.
BEO would like to take this opportunity to thank Donegal County Council and the VEC for their kind sponsorship, without which running Comórtas BEO would not be possible.
The official launch of Comórtas BEO will take place in the Regional Cultural Centre on Thursday 19th January at 2.00 pm.
Speakers on the day include:
- Seosamh Mac Ceallabhuí BEO
- Dessie Larkin Comhairle Contae Dhun na nGall
- Mary Ann Kane Coiste Gairmoideachas Dun na nGall
- Hugh Harkin Donegal Live
- Official launch by Nollaig mac Giolla Bhride Comhairle Contae Dhun na nGall
Bigí linn!
Scoil Santain – Campaign to oppose education cuts gathers pace
January 27, 2012
Photo from the Irish Times
Scoil Santain in Tallaght have been lobbying for some time now to oppose the education cuts that are set to cost their school and many more like it around the country very dearly. Information on their campaign to date is available at the following links:
http://www.scoilsantain.com/scoil-santain-sa-nuacht.html and http://scoilsantainpag.wordpress.com/.
Statement from the group:
The Scoil Santain Parents (SOS) (Save our Schools) Action Group was set up as a result of Minister Ruairí Quinn’s decision to make cuts to the DEIS Schools in Ireland. If DEIS cuts were implemented, this would have an adverse effect on the positive teaching of our children, and undo all the good work achieved under the DEIS status of our school. This would put immense pressure on the teachers resulting in bigger class sizes, and a heavy financial burden on parents/guardians to make up the short fall in funding to compensate for loss of services to our school.
Although there are signs that our campaign has softened Minister Ruairí Quinn’s stance on these cuts, we need to ensure this is the case. Until we are guaranteed DEIS Status, our campaign must continue. Remember this is our right under our Constitution, not a concession that can be taken away.
Mise le meas,
Gearóid O Conaráin
(Scoil Santain Parents Action Group)
