Coláiste Feirste – Múinteoir le Béarla á lorg
March 29, 2012
Múinteoir Eolaíochta de dhíth i Loch Garman
March 28, 2012
Aighneacht ar Shamhail Mhaoinithe Fhorais na Gaeilge
March 27, 2012
Scléip 2012 Winners
March 26, 2012
Congratulations to everyone who took part in the final of the Scléip 2011 competition, we had a great day on March 24th in the Axis theatre in Ballymun. 15 schools took part in the final, and the day was a huge success. We had three judges for the show, Sinéad ní Uallacháin, Tomaí Ó Conghaile agus Jen ní Mhathúna, and they had a hard job choosing winners as the standard was so high on stage on the day. They praised all of the competitors for the progress they’d made since the regional heats, all of their practice paid off! After much discussion, they announced the results to the audience. We’d like to thank them for all their hard work, and to thank the teachers, parents and enthusiastic audience too, who gave the participants such encouragement. We wish the participants themselves all the best for the future; you’ve certianly got talent and we look forward to seeing you onstage again, whether it’s at Scléip 2013 or in the o2, who knows!
The winners in each category were:
Contemporary Music (groups):
Cór Cois Life, Coláiste Cois Life, Baile Átha Cliath (junior)
Na Comrádaithe, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG, Corcaigh (senior)
Contemporary Music (solo):
Sinéad Toomey, Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh (junior)
Kym Gartry, Coláiste de hÍde (senior)
Creative Dance (solo):
Saoirse ní Dhubhshláine, Coláiste de hÍde (junior)
Dearbhail Ní Mhurchú, Meánscoil Gharman (senior)
Creative Dance (groups):
Áine Pollock agus Sinéad Ní Buachalla, Coláiste de hÍde (junior)
Na Jaffa Cakes, Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach (senior)
Drama/mime (solo/groups):
Cé sa diabhail í Alice? Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara (junior)
Naomh Smirnoff, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (senior)
Variety (solo/groups):
Clíona Ní Ghallchoir, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (junior)
Grúpa Ceoil an Daingean, Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne (senior)
Judges’ Choice:
Scléipeoirí, Coláiste Chilliain
Grand Prix 2012:
Sinéad Toomey, Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh
Photos from the event can be seen in our gallery. If you have photos or recordings of the event, you’d be very welcome to send them to us: cspainneach@gaelscoileanna.ie.
Anger over decision to omit Gaelscoil from building list
March 16, 2012
PARENTS AND school management at a long-established Gaelscoil in Galway have condemned the Government decision to omit it from the latest school building programme.
The board of management and parents’ committee have promised a “campaign of action” to reverse the decision.
Galway West TD Brian Walsh of Fine Gael has also questioned why the Department of Education plans to build a new primary school in Knocknacarra, one of the city’s largest surburbs, while the existing nearby Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh has had its extension shelved.
Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, an all-Irish, Catholic co-educational primary, was established in a rented house in the then developing western suburb of Knocknacarra on the Galway Gaeltacht boundary in 1993. It eventually moved into a purpose-built eight-class school in 1999. However, more than half of the 460 pupils on its roll have spent much, if not all, of their school life in prefabs, due to its rapid expansion. The school secured approval for an extension in 2009, and the Department of Education had already paid for architectural designers and quantity surveyors for the project.
When the department signalled inclusion of a third primary school for the suburb, it attracted patronage applications from Educate Together, City of Galway VEC, Lifeways Ireland Ltd and An Foras Pátrúnachta. Mr Walsh said that “under no circumstances should the development of a new school proceed until the needs of existing primary schools in the area were addressed”. He said he had contacted Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn, who had agreed that officials from his department would meet local school principals to discuss the demographic needs.
“Our 460 children, and teaching staff have patiently endured overcrowded and substandard accommodation for far too long and this unjust decision to shelve our building project at the 11th hour and without warning defies belief,” said Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh principal Dairíona Nic an Iomaire yesterday.
The department said that the five-year programme was focused on meeting demographic needs, and the Galway city area showed a requirement of 47 additional mainstream classrooms by 2017. This increase was concentrated on Knocknacarra in the west and Doughiska in the east, which was provided with a school in 2010. A new Knocknacarra school in 2013 would cater for extra demand, it said. It said the building project for Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh was at an advanced stage of architectural planning, with detailed design approval issued by it on January 10th, 2012, and it would “continue to advance this project”.
IRISH TIMES
40 Irish-medium schools on the department’s list of building projects for the next five years – but disappointment for 27% of Irish-medium schools at primary level and 38% at post-primary level still lacking permanent accommodation
March 14, 2012
“We welcome the Minister for Education and Skills’ announcement concerning new school accommodation to be developed in the period 2012-2015. This will create a favourable learning environment for the 40 Irish-medium schools amongst the 275 mentioned on Ruairí Quinn’s list”, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. President, Máirín Ní Chéileachair stated today. “These schools have had huge obstacles to overcome in recent years in their fight for better conditions for their children and we wish the pupils, staff and parents every success in this new era”.
The announcement came as a huge disappointment, however, to the 27% of primary schools and 38% of post-primary schools teaching through Irish that are still without permanent accommodation and are not on any of the Department’s lists. These schools are left with little hope of improvement in their accommodation.
“There has been an ongoing accommodation crisis in the Irish-medium education sector for years now” said Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, CEO of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. “60% of Irish-medium primary schools established in the last 25 years are currently in temporary accommodation – that’s without taking into account other schools that have grown since they moved into permanent accommodation and now have part of the school housed in temporary accommodation. It’s unacceptable that schools are left without any guarantee from the Department that appropriate accommodation will be provided for them. The Department’s new development plan covers a period of 5 years – too long to wait for schools that have not been included in this plan. This will result in some schools having no choice but to close, their enrolment numbers having fallen due to their poor accommodation”.
Among those who have been left out of the plan are 7 schools that have been waiting more than 20 years for permanent accommodation, and the Minister’s announcement of the investment plan worth €1.5 billion was a serious blow to them. “These school communities feel that they are being completely ignored by the Department and that an injustice is being done to their children” said ní Ghréacháin. “The temporary accommodation arrangements in place in these schools make it impossible for them to develop, they give rise to health and safety concerns and they have a huge impact on the children’s experience of education”.
Temporary accommodation arrangements also have a huge impact on the Department of Education’s budget. The Department is paying rent on inappropriate accommodation, often in dilapidated prefabs, where the money could be better spent on building projects and investment in the future of our education system. These temporary accommodation arrangements need to come to an end and the Department needs to be put under pressure to provide healthy learning environments for students.
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is seeking an urgent meeting with the Forward Planning Unit of the Department of Education to discuss the conditions in these schools and to demand that priority be given to addressing the accommodation crisis in Irish-medium schools with permanent recognition in temporary accommodation, so that these schools are not left to suffer as they have for too many years now.
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the national coordinating body for Irish-medium schools at primary and post-primary level. It provides assistance and support to parents and local communities who wish to found a school and it supports existing Irish-medium schools in their development.
Note:
The Department of Education’s plan for school accommodation are available on www.education.ie.
The list of Irish-medium schools included in the Department of Education’s plan is available here.
Below is a list of Irish-medium schools not included in the Department of Education’s plans for accommodation:
Schools established in the 1980s that are still without permanent accommodation:
1. Gaelscoil Dhonncha Rua, Sionna, 1984
2. Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers, Corcaigh, 1984
3. Scoil Chaitlín Maude, Baile Átha Cliath, 1985
4. Gaelscoil Sheoirse Clancy, Luimneach, 1986
5. Gaelscoil Uileog de Búrca, Clár Chlainne Mhuiris, 1989
6. Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí, Trá Lí, 1989 (Post-primary)
Schools established in the 1990s that are still without permanent accommodation:
1. Gaelscoil Sairséal, Luimneach, 1990
2. Gaelscoil Uí Choimín, Cill Rois, 1991
3. Gaelscoil Dhochtúir Uí Shúilleabháin, An Sciobairín, 1993
4. Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail, Lios Tuathail, 1993
5. Gaelscoil na Camóige, Baile Átha Cliath, 1993
6. Gaelscoil Chluain Meala, Cluain Meala, 1994
7. Gaelscoil Dhroichead na Banndan, Droichead na Banndan, 1995
8. Gaelscoil Phádraig, Baile Breac, Co. Átha Cliath, 1995
9. Gaelscoil Eois, Cluain Eois, 1995
10. Gaelscoil Bhreifne, An Cabhán, 1995
11. Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré, Sligeach, 1996
12. Gaelscoil na Bóinne, Baile Átha Troim, 1996
13. Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna, Baile Átha Cliath, 1996
14. Gaelscoil Thulach na nÓg, Dún Búinne, 1998
15. Gaelscoil Charraig na Siúire, Carraig na Siúire, 1998
16. Gaelscoil na gCeithre Maol, Béal an Átha, 1998
17. Gaelscoil Phort Laoise, Port Laoise, 1998
18. Gaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí, Dún na nGall, 1999
19. Gaelscoil Bhun Cranncha, Bun Chranncha, 1999
20. Coláiste Ráithín, Brí Chualann, 1991 (Post-primary)
21. Coláiste Pobail Osraí, Cill Chainnigh, 1991 (Post-primary)
22. Coláiste Daibhéad, Corcaigh, 1993 (Post-primary)
Schools established in the 2000s that are still without permanent accommodation:
1. Gaelscoil de hÍde, Ros Comáin, 2000
2. Gaelscoil Chois Feabhail, Bun an Phobail, 2001
3. Gaelscoil Éirne, Béal Átha Seannaigh, 2002
4. Gaelscoil Mhúscraí, An Bhlárna, 2002
5. Gaelscoil an tSlí Dála, Buiríos Mór Osraí, 2005
6. Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin, Baile Átha Cliath, 2005
7. Gaelscoil an Choillín, An Mhuileann gCearr, 2006
8. Gaelscoil na Lochanna, Baile Choimín, 2006
9. Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil, Gleann Maghair, 2006
10. Gaelscoil Chionn tSáile, Cionn tSáile, 2007
11. Gaelscoil na bhFilí, Gort Inse Guaire, 2007
12. Gaelscoil Chluainín, Cluainín Uí Ruairc, 2007
13. Gaelscoil Lorgan, Baile na Lorgan, 2008
14. Gael-Choláiste Chill Dara, 2003 (Post-primary)
15. Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, Luimneach, 2006 (Post-primary)
16. Gaelcholáiste na Mara, An tInbhear Mór, 2006 (Post-primary)
17. Meánscoil Gharman, 2006 (Post-primary)
18. Gael-Choláiste Phort Láirge, 2007 (Post-primary)
19. Gaelcholáiste Chineál Eoghain, Bun Chranncha, 2007 (Post-primary)
40 scoil lán-Ghaeilge san áireamh i bplean tógála an Rialtais
March 13, 2012
Luach €2 bhilliún de thionscnaimh tógála scoile fógartha ag an Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna
March 12, 2012
Department of Education announces four new gaelscoileanna opening in 2012 and 2013
March 7, 2012
“Of the 16 new primary schools to open around the country in 2012 and 2013, we welcome the announcement by the Minister of Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn, TD that four of them are to be gaelscoileanna”, said the president of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. Máirín Ní Chéileachair. “This is a positive decision that ensures that Irish-medium education will be available as a choice for pupils whose parents have been campaigning diligently on their behalf. This progress confirms the significant demand from the public for Irish-medium education and the continuing growth, development and demand for gaelscoileanna.”
The new gaelscoileanna are to be established in the following areas:
- Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. Gaelscoil an Chuilinn will open in September 2012 *See note below on how to register your child for this new school.
- Firhouse/Oldbawn, September 2013
- Stepaside, Dublin 18, September 2013
The three schools listed above will be under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta.
A new gaelscoil will also open in Knocknacarra, Galway in September 2013, though the patronage of the school is yet to be decided. The new system put in place by the Department of Education states that the Department alone will identify the areas in which new schools are to be established, making the process far less democratic than before. In this new recognition process, applications for gaelscoileanna in other areas of rapid population growth were rejected, particularly affecting Kildare, where the closest gaelscoil is unable to cater for the overwhelming demand for Irish-medium education. The Department has given limited recognition to this demand, and there is hope that a gaelscoil might be established there in 2014.
CEO of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO., Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin said that “while we recognise that today’s announcement is a positive reflection of the hard work done by the local founding committees and the cooperation of all the partners in the process, there are problems with the system in that it does not allow for the demand that exists in areas outside of those identified by the Department, particularly those areas where the population is not on the increase. This leaves communities without access to their preferred type of education for their children. This makes it difficult for us to inspire and encourage communities to engage with the process, when there is no certain outcome for them. We firmly believe that community choice should be central to the process, and as an organisation we will continue to support all gaelscoileanna and those who wish to establish new schools.”
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the national coordinating body for Irish-medium schools at primary and post-primary level. It provides assistance and support to parents and local communities who wish to found a school and it supports existing Irish-medium schools in their development.
*Parents can register their children for September 2012 in Gaelscoil an Chuilinn in Mulhuddart by calling 086 3236187 or emailing gaelscoilanchuilinn@gmail.com.
Further information:
Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin, CEO, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.
Phone: 01 8535195 Email: blathnaid@gaelscoileanna.ie
Máirín Ní Chéileachair, President, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.
Phone: 01 6290667 Email: mairinnicheileachair@gmail.com
Forbairt na Matamaitice sa Chóras Tumoideachais – Seimineár Inseirbhíse
March 7, 2012
