Minister Quinn announces patronage of new Primary schools being established in 2012 and 2013
March 7, 2012
The Minister for Education & Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., today announced his decisions on the patronage of new primary schools to be established in 2012 and 2013.
This is the culmination of the process which began in June 2011 when the Minister announced that 20 new primary schools are to be established up to 2015 across a number of locations to cater for increasing pupil numbers.
At that time the Minister also announced new criteria and arrangements for the recognition of the new schools. The arrangements included the establishment of a New Schools Establishment Group, an independent advisory group, to advise the Minister on the patronage of the new schools following its consideration of a report prepared by Department officials. The New Schools Establishment Group reported to the Minister last week.
Announcing the patronage of the new schools, Minister Quinn said: “The decisions taken by me on patronage of the new schools place a particular emphasis on providing for demonstrated parental demand for plurality and diversity of patronage. These new schools will optimise parental choice and strengthen diversity of provision in the areas in which they are to be established.”
Patrons were asked to provide evidence of parental demand when making an application for a new school. In addition, the criteria used in deciding on patronage included how the proposed schools under the respective patrons would provide for extending or strengthening diversity of provision in each area, having regard to the views of parents.
In assessing the applications received in all cases, all of the published criteria as set out were considered, including the extent of diversity in existing schools and the extent of diversity that would be provided by the new school or schools. This was considered in conjunction with the level of parental demand for each of the patron applicants.
The Minister expressed his thanks to the members of the New Schools Establishment Group for their valuable input to the process. Minister Quinn said “I initiated the revised system for the establishment of new schools and the appointment of the school patron so that it would be an objective and transparent process. The role of the New Schools Establishment Group is critical to achieving these aims and I want to thank them for their work in this area.”
Department officials will shortly contact each of the patron bodies in regard to the logistics of the establishment of these new schools.
Seven new primary schools will open in September 2012. Of these, five will be under the patronage of Educate Together (ET), one will be under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta and the seventh will be a Community National School which will be under VEC patronage when enabling legislation is passed.
Minister Quinn accepted the recommendations of the Group in all cases with the exception of Kildare and Mallow. He made a change regarding the patronage proposed for the new schools in Kildare and Mallow where the level of parental demand demonstrated by each of the patrons was practically identical. Minister Quinn has approved Educate Together as patron of the new school in Kildare and he has approved Co. Cork VEC as patron of the new school in Mallow (rather than the VEC in Kildare and Educate Together in Mallow as had been recommended). County Kildare already has a community national school under Kildare VEC located in Naas. This change was made in order to expand the number of counties and VECs having a community national school and to limit the number of community national schools commencing in 2012 ahead of the enactment of new legislation regarding VECs. The Education and Training Boards Bill, the general scheme of which has been published, will deal with the statutory basis regarding the VEC/ Education and Training Board involvement in community national schools. The Minister will also be publishing a working group report on the operation to date of Community National Schools in the coming weeks and in this context is considering how this model can be further developed as part of the primary system generally.
List of New Primary Schools 2012, New Primary Schools 2013 and 2014 onwards
Report of the New Schools Establishment Group on the Patronage of Primary Schools scheduled to commence in September 2012 and 2013
EDUCATION.IE
Scléip Winners – Connacht
March 5, 2012
We had a great day out at the Connacht heat of Scléip in the Town Hall Theatre on March 2nd. There were 2 schools with us on the day and all of the participants are due praise, the standard was very very high this year and the judge had difficult decisions to make. Below is the list of winners, who will go on to compete in the competiton final:
Contemporary Music (solo):
- Meabh Nic an Chrosáin, Coláiste an Eachréidh (junior)
Contemporary Music (groups):
- Teannas, Coláiste an Eachréidh (junior)
- Armóin, Coláiste an Eachréidh (senior)
Judges’ Choice:
- Jade Tierney, Coláiste an Eachréidh (junior)
New publication – Lámhleabhar do phríomhoidí i scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge
March 1, 2012
Scléip Winners – Ulster
March 1, 2012
We had a great day out at the Ulster heat of Scléip in Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin in Derry on the 29th February. There were 4 schools with us on the day and all of the participants are due praise, the standard was very very high this year and the judges had difficult decisions to make. Below is the list of winners, who will go on to compete in the competiton final:
Contemporary Music (solo):
- Megan Nic Ruairí, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sóisear)
- Emma Ní Fhuaruisce, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sinsear)
Contemporary Music (groups):
- Loinnir, Coláiste Chineál Eoghain (sóisear)
- Eva, Megan & Emma, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sinsear)
Creative Dance (solo):
- Christina Ní Luachra, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sóisear)
- Aoibhinn Ní Mhuimhne, Coláiste Chineál Eoghain (sinsear)
Creative Dance (groups):
- Cinnúint, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sóisear)
- Anna & Orla, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sinsear)
Drama/mime (solo and groups):
- Ciarán & Eva Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sóisear)
- Jack & Shane le “Naomh Smirnoff”, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sinsear)
Judges’ Choice:
- James Mac Lochlainn, Coláiste Chineál Eoghain (sinsear)
Scrios iomlán á bhagairt ar earnáil dheonach na Gaeilge
February 28, 2012
Mórshiúl i nGaoth Dobhair
February 28, 2012
Sicíní Scoil Aonghusa
February 27, 2012
Scléip Winners – Munster heat
February 24, 2012
We had a great day out at the Munster heat of Scléip in the Firkin Crane theatre in Cork on the 22nd February. There were 6 schools with us on the day and all of the participants are due praise, the standard was very very high this year and the judges had difficult decisions to make. Below is the list of winners, who will go on to compete in the competiton final:
Modern music (solo):
- Sinéad Toomey, Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh (junior)
- Maitias Barker, Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne (senior)
Modern music (group):
- Na JJs, Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh (junior)
- Na Comrádaithe, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire A.G (senior)
Creative dance (solo):
- Shauna Ní Thuama, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire A.G (junior)
- Áine Ni Loingsigh, Coláiste an Phiarsaigh (senior)
Creative dance (group):
- Húla Húpz! Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh (junior)
- Triail a hAon! Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh (senior)
Drama/mime (solo and group):
- Anna & Nicole, Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne (junior)
- Aisteoirí na Ríochta, Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí (senior)
Miscellaneous (solo and group):
- Dílseacht Gheal, Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí (junior)
- Léiriú Gaelach den amhrán Addicted to Progress ó na Coronas, Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne (senior)
Judges’ Choice:
- Na Rithimí! Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh (senior)
Congratulations to everyone who took part, we hope you really enjoyed the day and we look forward to seeing you again in the Axis on March 24th for the competition final.
Seimineáir Inseirbhíse ar Fhorbairt na Matamaitice sa Chóras Tumoideachais
February 21, 2012
National protest to protect small schools
February 21, 2012
Thousands of people will gather around the country this week in opposition to the cuts to small schools proposed in the December’s Budget.
Two national days of protest against the cuts have been organsied by the various organisations involved and are due to take place this week.
Members of DEIS schools will gather at the Dáil at 3.30 pm on Thursday, 23rd February. A large group is expected on the day in addition to several other protests by DEIS schools that will take place around the country.
The second day of protests will occur on Saturday, 25th February and is being organised by the Save Our Small Schools campaign and various branches of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO). Save Our Small Schools has established many groups throughout the country in recent times, as a result of the proposed cuts and crowds are expected to gather in Kerry, Clare, Waterford, Donegal and Galway on the day. 150 schools and 3000 people are expected to take to the streets of Castlebar on Saturday where the group will march on the constituency office of An Taoiseach to demonstrate their opposition to the proposed cuts.
Branches of the INTO will march around the country on Saturday including Craobh an Earagail in Gaoth Dobhair. They will gather at An Screabán (the office of Roinn na Gaeltachta) at midday and they are urging members of all local schools, boards of management, parents and staff to join them on the day.
The cuts proposed in last December’s Budget will result in the number of pupils required for a four-teacher school increasing from 81 to 83 students. For Gaeltacht schools, the number would raise from 76 to 86 by 2014, a hike that will require 10 extra pupils for each Gaeltacht school to preserve their four-teacher status.
GAELPORT
