Gael-Choláiste an Phiarsaigh still without premises
January 15, 2014
Department of Education and Skills yet to announce a site for the new post-primary school
Lorcán Mac Gabhann, Chairperson of Gael-Choláiste an Phiarsaigh, has said that the location of the school, which is due to open on 1 September 2014, is still unknown to the Board of Management.
The decision to establish an all-Irish secondary school in Dundrum, South Dublin, was taken by the Department of Education and Skills over two years ago, and although 200 students are already registered, with 46 due to start in September 2014, no information has been made available to the Board or parents regarding the location of the school.
Mac Gabhann said that while the Board has been working hard over the last year there has been little meaningful engagement with the Department of Education regarding a location for the school and up until now, parents or the Board were never consulted as to where to school should be located so as to best suit their needs.
One parent of a child starting in September, Sarah Flynn, said, “It is incredibly difficult for us as parents when our children ask us where they will be starting next September and we have no answer for them. This uncertainty is placing a huge strain on the children”.
Another parent, Donal Duibhginn, said, “There is no other provision for Irish medium education available for our son in the area and Gael-Choláiste an Phiarsaigh is our last hope to provide the type of education we wish for our children”.
The Board of Management of the Gael-Choláiste is urgently demanding a meeting with the Minister of Education and Skills to discuss the lack of consultation and dialogue with parents and Board over the future location of the school.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
