Gaelscoileanna Teo. statement re Minister for Education and Skills announcement on major school building projects

November 18, 2015

Accommodation guarantee for schools

Gaelscoileanna Teo. welcomes the announcement by the Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O Sullivan, that detailed significant capital investment in schools for the 2016-2021 period. The Department of Education and Skills has published a list of major school building projects that includes 27 Irish-medium primary schools and 16 Irish-medium post-primary schools. These schools are currently operating out of temporary accommodation or in buildings that require significant refurbishment. Gaelscoileanna Teo. wishes to congratulate the communities in these schools; the investment promised by the Minister will allow the schools to grow and allow the provision of Irish-medium education to develop further. Gaelscoileanna Teo. will continue to engage with the Department of Education and Skills to ensure the timely delivery of these projects in consultation with the schools, and to lobby on behalf of those schools not yet provided for by the Department.

New primary schools – opportunities to establish new Irish-medium schools

The two new schools planned for the Marino/Drumcondra/Dublin 1 and Stillorgan/Goatstown areas have been included in the school buildings programme. Both are due to open for the first time in 2016 and Gaelscoileanna Teo. are supporting campaigns by parents in both areas who wish to see the schools designated as multidenominational Irish-medium schools, under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta. The Minister for Education and Skills will decide the ethos and patronage of the schools in early 2016, based on expressions of interest from parents.

In her announcement on November 17^th, the Minister also stated that additional new schools would be required in 2017 and 2018; 4 primary and 9 post-primary schools in a number of different areas. The language ethos of the primary schools will be decided on the basis of parental demand and patron applications. Gaelscoileanna Teo. will consult with prospective patrons, existing schools and parents in each identified area to ensure that the demand for Irish-medium education is taken into account.

New post-primary schools – demand for Irish-medium education ignored

Gaelscoileanna Teo. is very disappointed, however, at the announcement that all 9 of the new post-primary schools announced will teach through the medium of English. This decision ignores the significant proven demand for post-primary education through the medium of Irish. 5 comprehensive submissions demonstrating this demand have been presented to the Department of Education and Skills by parents campaigning to secure Irish-medium post-primary education for their children, submissions that have not been recognised at all by the Minister in her statement. Strong and sustained campaigns have been run by parents in Ballincollig, Dublin 15, Portlaoise, Sligo and North Cork City, parents whose children will be denied post-primary education through the medium of Irish as a result of this decision. Gaelscoileanna Teo. will continue to lobby on behalf of parents and students who wish to have Irish-medium immersion education available to them.

The Minister recognised in her statement that there is sufficient demand for an independent Irish-medium post-primary school in Maynooth, where an Aonad (Irish-medium unit) opened in 2014. However, the Department of Education and Skills does not intend to sanction the opening of the school until 2019, despite proof from the community that sufficient demand exists for the school to open immediately. Gaelscoileanna Teo. supports the community and asks that the Minister sanction the opening of the school in Maynooth in September 2016, to cater for the demand from students in the north Kildare region. Gaelscoileanna Teo. is lobbying the Department of Education and Skills to allow other Irish-medium units to be granted the status of independent schools; schools such as Ghaelcholáiste an Chláir, which has an enrolment of 150 students but as an Aonad, does not receive adequate support from the Department and cannot develop fully as a result. The Department of Education and Skills must adopt a policy that allows for planned development of Irish-medium education at post-primary level and gives Irish-medium units a mechanism to achieve independent status and cater appropriately for students who choose Irish-medium education.

Education Conference

School accommodation, demand for Irish-medium immersion education and a range of other topics will be discussed at the Gaelscoileanna Teo. Education Conference on the 20^th and 21^st of November in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone. Staff from naíonraí and schools will attend the conference, as well as representatives from the Department of Education and Skills and other education partners. ‘Forás Feasa, Saothrú Chun Feabhais – Growing in Knowledge, Working towards Excellence’ is the theme of this year’s conference, and a comprehensive programme of events will be provided for attendees. Gaelscoileanna Teo. will host their AGM on Saturday, November 21^st. you can register to attend the conference on www.gaelscoileanna.ie. Follow the conference on Twitter: #ComhdháilGST

Ends

Further information re: School accommodation, education conference

Nóra Ní Loingsigh, Acting CEO, Gaelscoileanna Teo.

+353 1 853 5191 | +353 87 673 7560

Further information re: New schools

Clare Spáinneach, Senior Policy & Development Officer, Gaelscoileanna Teo.

+353 1 853 5193 | +353 87 972 4020

Notes for the Editor

Gaelscoileanna Teo.

Gaelscoileanna Teo. was founded in 1973 as a national, voluntary organisation supporting the development of Irish-medium schools at primary and at post-primary level. As of July 2014, Gaelscoileanna Teo. is the lead organisation in the Irish-Medium Immersion Education and Preschool sector. The organisation’s new role also includes the provision of support services for Irish-medium schools in Gaeltacht areas. Gaelscoileanna Teo. provides advice, assistance and support to people who wish to have their children educated through the medium of Irish, as well as support services and advocacy for those working in the sector.

Campaigns for new schools:

Marino/Drumcondra/Dublin 1 http://www.gaelscoileanna.ie/northdub/?lang=en

Stillorgan/Goatstown http://www.gaelscoileanna.ie/southdub/?lang=en

New post-primary schools http://www.gaelscoileanna.ie/bunu-scoil-nua-iarbhunscoileanna/?lang=en

Gaelscoileanna Teo. Education Conference

http://www.gaelscoileanna.ie/comhdhail/
Department of Education and Skills Press Release

http://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Press-Releases/2015-Press-Releases/PR15-11-17.html

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(Gaeilge) Gaelcholáiste nua le hoscailt i Maigh Nuad i 2019

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Posted by Cormac Gaelscoileanna | Filed Under In the Media | Leave a Comment

(Gaeilge) Folúntas: Stiúrthóir Cúnta

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€4,300 raised for Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin ASD classes at Coffee Day

November 17, 2015

The organisers of last week’s fundraising coffee day and cake sale at the Parish Centre, Clonakilty in aid of the three ASD classes at the local Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin have expressed their heartfelt thanks to all who made the day such a success. €4,300 was raised, with other donations coming in since.

Main organiser, Jennifer Brennan, said she could not believe the generosity of businesses in Clonakilty and beyond who provided sponsorship in the form of vouchers, spot prizes, baking and monetary donations. On the day itself, help and support came from various quarters and the coffee day was enjoyed by all.

“We are absolutely delighted. People who have no association with the ASD classes or indeed the Gaelscoil itself, arrived with cakes, buns and sandwiches. The goodwill was amazing and we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all who made the day the success it was”, said Jennifer.

“The 18 children from four to 12 years who attend the ASD classes at the Gaelscoil enjoy a range of activities including yoga, horse riding, art therapy, etc. which really assists their development. The coffee morning proceeds will go towards these activities and will be deeply appreciated by those children and their families”, she concluded.