Scléip – síneadh leis an dáta deiridh d’iontrálacha
January 22, 2013
Emergency Meeting to discuss future of COGG
January 15, 2013
An emergency meeting of Irish language and education organisations will take place in Dublin tomorrow to discuss the proposed merger of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills, Seán Ó Foghlú announced the amalgamation at an Irish-medium education conference on November 23rd 2012.
Since its foundation in 2002, COGG has provided textbooks, posters, Irish language programming and electronic learning materials to Irish-medium schools across the country. It has also funded research in the area of language teaching and immersion education and acts as an advisory body on issues concerning Irish-medium education.
A meeting of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta and Gaelscoileanna, organisations which campaigned for the establishment of the Council, as well An Foras Pátrúnachta and Na Naíonraí Gaelacha will be held to discuss a campaign to support COGG.
The organisations have expressed worry that the role of COGG as an independent agency will be diminished by the merger as well as concerns that the final word on future funding would be made by the NCCA.
The future of COGG has been uncertain since 2009 where Colm McCarthy’s An Bord Snip Nua report recommended that the council be closed. Following the McCarthy report, the Department of Education and Science defended COGG and recommended that it should continue to function as an independent body.
There was some concern that the Bord Snip report failed to take into account the wider functions of COGG in promoting Irish-medium education.
However in the past year the Department has changed its policy and hinted indirectly to representatives of COGG that a merger with the NCCA was on the cards.
No official representations were made to the board or staff of COGG in the interim and it is reported that the organisation was informed of the changes on the day prior to the conference of Gaelscoileanna and Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta in November.
The Department has stated that the merger would ensure that COGG would concentrate its resources on its core functions of providing teaching resources to support the teaching of Irish in tandem with the NCCA’s work on revising the curriculum.
According to Ó Foghlú, “The general administrative functions, which are a considerable burden on a small staff, will now be provided by the NCCA”
Three staff are currently employed by COGG and it is now believed that they would operate as an Irish language unit within the NCCA.
The Department’s planned savings may be scuppered however by the fact that both agencies operate on a daily basis using different languages with COGG conducting all of its business, accounts and administration through the medium of Irish language.
The Department insists that the merger makes sense and will benefit Irish-medium education in the long term. Speaking at the Gaelscoileanna conference Seán Ó Foghlú stated that COGG would preserve its identity under the auspices of the NCCA. “The move will strengthen its ability to support Irish-medium education and the teaching of Irish generally”, he added.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
New Gaelscoil for Kildare, September 2013 & Parental Survey – Press Release from An Foras Pátrúnachta
January 14, 2013
The Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, announced today that a new Gaelscoil is to open in Kildare Town in September of this year. In the same announcement the Minister outlined the commencement of the second phase of the survey of parents on the divestment of schools from the Catholic Church.
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, Ard Rúnaí An Foras Pátrúnachta, stated that ‘ We are delighted for the people of Kildare Town. There is great demand locally for Irish Medium Education which has been illustrated by the waiting lists for the other Irish Medium schools in the area. Ó hEaghra continued ‘An Foras Pátrúnachta are thankful to the Department for looking favourably on our application on behalf of the people of Kildare Town.”
In relation to the divestment of Catholic schools the second phase of the survey on 38 areas around the country is commencing today. The Minister is asking parents in these areas to complete the online survey before the 8th of February 2013. The survey can be accessed on the Department’s website at www.education.ie or all information can be found at www.foras.ie.
Ó hEaghra stated that “this is a great opportunity for parents who would like Irish Medium education in their area. It is important that parents complete the survey and select an Irish Medium School under An Foras Pátrúnachta.” He went on to say that “we believe that every child has a right to Irish Medium Education if they so wish. This is an opportunity for parents to seek this right for their children.”
An Foras Pátrúnachta has been providing diversity and addressing parents wishes since it was founded in 1993. Comprehensive information relating to this process is available at An Foras Pátrúnachta’s website (www.foras.ie) and we will be available to provide information on the benefits of Irish Medium Education, the multi-denominational ethos and about us as a patron.
For media information, contact:
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra:: 01-6294110 :: eolas@foras.ie
Siobhán Seoighe :: 01-6294110 :: eolas@foras.ie
About An Foras Pátrúnachta:
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
Surveys on primary school patronage rolled out to 38 areas across the country
January 14, 2013
Minister Quinn asks parents to indicate which patron bodies they would like to see running primary schools in their area.
Parents of all children aged 0 to 12 years in 38 areas across Ireland are being asked by the Minister for Education and Skills what patrons they would like to see operating their local primary schools.
Surveys are going live today (Monday 14th January) and are an expansion of pilot surveys on primary school patronage which were conducted late last year in five towns.
The survey can be accessed on line via www.education.ie and parents or guardians of primary school going children and 0 to 5 year olds in the 38 towns and suburbs (list below) are being urged to fill it in. They will need to have their PPS number in order to complete the survey; however, these details are only being used for verification purposes.
The aim of the survey is to establish the level of demand from parents for diversity of school patronage in each of the towns. At present, some 96% of primary schools are under church patronage, with more than 90% or approximately 3,000 schools under the remit of the Catholic Church. This survey initiative follows on from the recommendations of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary sector.
If parents indicate they would like a wider choice of patron, then the Department of Education and Skills (DES) will ask existing patrons to come up with a plan to transfer some schools to other patron bodies.
“This is an historic opportunity for parents to have a real say in the type of school they wish to send their children to, be it denominational, multi-denominational, all-Irish or other,” said Minister Ruairí Quinn T.D.
“In the 38 towns and suburbs where the surveys are taking place, there is little prospect of any new schools opening as the population remains stable and there is enough capacity within existing schools. However, if parents demonstrate through this survey that they want a greater choice of primary school then we will work with existing patrons to transfer patronage to ensure they can send their children to a school which best reflects their own ethos and beliefs.”
The bodies which have indicated that they would like to become patrons of any divested schools in the identified areas are the VECs, An Foras Patrúnachta, Educate Together, and in a small number of areas the National Learning Network and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Kildare Town has been removed from the original list of areas to be surveyed, following consultation with patrons. The town already has an Educate Together school, opened in September 2011. There was also a recommendation to establish an all-Irish school in the town in coming years. Since then, an Foras Patrúnachta has produced sufficient evidence of demand for an all Irish school in Kildare and the establishment of a Gaelscoil will commence in September 2013.
A code of conduct has been worked out in consultation with the patron bodies which will limit expenditure on the provision of information. The code is designed to ensure the surveys are conducted in a reasonable manner, avoiding contentious commentary.
A comprehensive information campaign by the DES in each of the areas begins today and will include a leaflet drop to every household giving details of the survey and advertising on local radio and newspapers. A free helpline is also available in the Department for anyone who has any difficulties in completing the survey: 1800 303621.
The helpline will be open from 9.30 to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Paper based versions of the survey are also available on request.
The survey process will be overseen by the independent New Schools Establishment Group. The Department will publish detailed reports on the survey outcomes.
Parents and guardians of all 0 to 12 year olds in the 38 towns have from now until the 8th of February to complete the survey at www.education.ie.
List of 38 areas to be surveyed
- Ballina
- Ballinasloe
- Ballyfermot/ Chapelizod/ Palmerstown/ Cherry Orchard
- Bandon
- Birr
- Buncrana
- Carrick-on-Suir
- Carrigaline
- Celbridge
- Clonmel
- Cobh
- Dublin 6
- Dungarvan
- Edenderry
- Enniscorthy
- Fermoy
- Kells (Ceanannas)
- Killarney
- Leixlip
- Longford
- Loughrea
- Malahide
- Monaghan
- Nenagh
- New Ross
- Passage West
- Portmarnock
- Roscommon
- Roscrea
- Rush
- Shannon
- Skerries
- Thurles
- Tipperary
- Tuam
- Westport
- Wicklow
- Youghal
There are 311 primary schools in the 38 areas.
Meeting re new primary school for Stepaside
January 14, 2013
Diary Date for 2013 – there will be a meeting in Sandyford Community Centre at 19.30 on the 14/01/13 about the new Gaelscoil in Stepaside, due to open in September 2013. The meeting is being organised by the school’s patron, An Foras Pátrúnachta, and further information is available here:
- Website: http://www.foras.ie/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AFPatrunachta
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/An-Foras-P%C3%A1tr%C3%BAnachta/185008058242337
- Blog: http://afpatrunachta.wordpress.com/
Scléip 2013 le craoladh ar Raidió na Gaeltachta
January 8, 2013
Scléip 2013 – Dates for your diary
December 19, 2012
Éileamh ar éagsulacht i mbunscoileanna na tíre
December 12, 2012
Online debate over Education Minister’s stance on Irish language
December 12, 2012
Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn today has said that the amount of time spent on the teaching of Irish and religion in primary schools is an issue of concern.
The statement has prompted debate online once again over the status of the Irish language in the education system with many Irish language speakers responding on Facebook and Twitter to the remarks.
According to a report published on the Irish Examiner and Breaking News websites today, the Minister is quoted as saying “the official time allocation for religion and Irish is high relative to other subjects. Am I personally concerned by that? Yes I am. But this is a choice that parents and teachers and the patrons of schools have to make.”
A recent international study has found that while Ireland’s level of reading, maths and science skills is above average, the country’s schools failed to make it on to the list of top schools.
The subject became a hot topic during the 2011 general election when the Labour Party, among others, came out against Fine Gael’s proposal to remove Irish as a core Leaving Certificate subject, a proposal which was later abandoned.
Minister Ruairí Quinn has said that he believes too much time is spent on the teaching of Irish and Religion, and he has expressed the same views since becoming Minister for Education. The Minister raised the question of time spent on Irish and religion in April and claimed at the time that the subject would need to be reconsidered id literacy and numeracy skills are to improve.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Reduction in Status for An Chomhairle Um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta
November 29, 2012
Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. and GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. express disappointment at the reduction in status for An Chomhairle Um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta.
The steering committees of Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. and Gaelscoileanna Teo. acknowledge that the two organisations ran an excellent joint conference, themed ‘Féinmheastóireacht, Forbairt, Feabhas– Self-assessment, Development, Excellence’, in the Ardilaun Hotel in Galway last Friday. More than 300 people attended the conference, the most to ever attend an Irish-medium educational conference to date. First class workshops were provided for the participants as well as comprehensive information regarding resources available through Irish from companies that had stands at the conference.
The participants and all the schools were taken aback when the General Secretary of the Department of Education and Skill, Seán Ó Foghlú, announced that An Chomhairle Um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) was to be integrated with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). The two organisations are highly disappointed that the Department is planning this and are certain that this decision will take from COGG’s ability to function as an independent entity and as an organisation that functions completely through the medium of Irish. Speaking on behalf of Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. Treasa Ní Mhainín, Chief Executive of the organisation, said, “it is evident that the Department of Education and Skills is not applying the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language by implementing this reduction in status. The Strategy mentions that the appropriate staff and resources will be made available to the Comhairle in order to allow it fulfil its duties but it is evident that the Department is not fulfilling its own duties regarding the Strategy in this case.” It is also mentioned in the plan that COGG ‘will play a key role in the implementation of the Strategy in the education sector’. How can COGG have such a key role if the Department of Education is reducing its powers?
It will be a big challenge for the schools not being able to do all their business with COGG through the medium of Irish. This will be impossible when COGG will be merged with the NCCA, where most of the staff that work there don’t speak Irish fluently. This even illustrates that there won’t be any financial saving as COGG will still have to do all its own administration.
“It is the schools that will be negatively impacted when there is a danger that the status of COGG will be further reduced over the following years and, therefore, that the same supply of resources won’t be available to schools that are teaching through the medium of Irish. Even though the amount of resources through Irish for these schools have improved they always need to be added to and as the curriculum changes further resources will be needed”, according to Máirín Ní Chéileachair, President of Gaelscoileanna Teo.
The two organisations will be fighting strongly against this decision on behalf of the schools that are teaching through Irish. Of the proposals regarding COGG that is made in the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language it is strongly recommended that ‘measures will be taken to progress the
development of the Irish language education resource centre in Baile Bhuirne, Co Cork’. The Department of Education and Skills are doing the opposite to supporting COGG and we must take a stance against that.
ENDS
More information:
Gaelscoileanna Teo. – Nóra Ní Loingsigh, Acting Chief Executive, 087-6737560 / Máirín Ní Chéileachair, President, 087-2861655
Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. Treasa Ní Mhainín, Chief Executive ag 087-6777140.
Editor’s note
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the coordinating body for Irish-medium schools. It provides motivation, assistance and practical support to parents and local communities who wish to found new schools and it operates to support the schools that are already established.
Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. is the only educational organisation working nationally to provide support and advice as well as campaigning for Gaeltacht schools at primary and post-primary level.
