(Gaeilge) Gaeilge do Thuismitheoirí – Acmhainn nua cheannródaíoch foilsithe do thuismitheoirí agus do mhúinteoirí
September 6, 2016
Child Protection in the Naíonra
August 5, 2016
Revised editions (in Irish and English ) of the resource for naíonraí developed by the National Early Years Children First Committee have just been published. PDF versions are available to download below, and will be available along with other resources on the Acmhainní (Resources) page of this site. If you’re using a resource you think should be shared with other naíonraí, please send it on to us via email; clare@gaelscoileanna.ie.
- Leagan Gaeilge – Beartas um Chosaint agus Leas Leanaí a Fhorbairt: Acmhainn do na Seirbhísí Luathbhlianta
- Revised – Developing a Child Protection & Welfare Policy: A Resource for Early Years Services
(Gaeilge) An Chéad Chomhdháil Taighde Uile-Oileánda ar an Tumoideachas: Páipéir roghnaithe ar fáil anois i bhfoirm PDF
August 4, 2016
Bruton rejects north Dublin appeal for secular Gaelscoil
July 19, 2016
Minister for Education Richard Bruton has rejected an appeal against his decision to refuse permission for a multidenominational Gaelscoil in north Dublin.
Campaigners had called for a change in the criteria used to grant school patronage after an application to open an Irish-medium secular school was rejected by Mr Bruton earlier this year.
The proposed patronage body, An Foras Pátrúnachta, had submitted 733 names of children from within the catchment and adjacent areas – a record-breaking number in the history of the Gaelscoil movement.
There is no comparable multidenominational Irish-medium school in any of the adjoining school districts and had permission been granted the proposed school would be the only Irish-medium school of this type on the northside of the city.
Despite the “strong application” and noting the “strong level of demand for Irish medium education in the area,” Mr Bruton informed An Foras Pátrúnachta by letter that he did not see “any basis” for overturning the original decision.
The decision “highlights the flaws” in the process for opening Irish-medium schools, and is based “on the rigid application of the patronage determination process,” Cormac Mc Cashin of An Foras Pátrúnachta said.
“We were extremely disappointed to read in the Minister’s letter that he is not willing to grant recognition to an Irish-medium school, in spite of the compelling case made by An Foras Pátrúnachta,” Mr Mc Cashin said.
In his letter to an Foras Pátrúnachta, Mr Bruton cited the geographical criteria adhered to by the Department of Education .
“Of the 733 children in respect of whom a preference for an all-Irish school was collected in this instance, some 332 are in fact living outside of Drumcondra/Marino/Dublin 1 , although the purpose of providing the school is to cater for the projected demographic growth within the area.”
He added that the patronage body “is very familiar” with the operation of the patronage system adding that it would have been “very aware” that children from outside the defined area whose names were included on the list “could not be counted.”
“I appreciate that this is disappointing, particularly for parents whose expectations had been raised, but in the interests of fairness and transparency the school planning area boundaryhas to be adhered to under the published terms of the process for establishing new schools to meet demographic need.”
Permission to open the school was awarded to patronage body Educate Together which had the most names from directly within the catchment area.
While the majority of the names included in the Gaelscoil list were also from within the area, many were from adjacent districts.
Campaigners say the school selection process is skewed against those who wish to have their children educated through the medium of Irish. They say derogation should be given to Irish medium schools on the basis that they cannot numerically compete with English-language schools in such strictly-defined catchment areas.
“We have not asked the Minister to overturn the decision to grant a school to Educate Together, as they have clearly illustrated the demand for such, we have rather sought equity for you the parents who seek Irish Medium Education for (their) children,” Mr Mc Cashin said.
Mr Mc Cashin said that since its inception, An Foras Pátrúnachta has pointed out that the existing patronage process “is not an equitable one when trying to provide the greatest diversity in school options”.
He said the process also fails to meet the State’s commitments under the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language which states that a high standard of all-Irish education will be provided to school students whose parents/guardians so wish.
Mr Mc Cashin added that the Department of Education accepts that children who attend Gaelscoileanna travel from outside the Department’s school planning areas. “They have asked that these children be included in our applications to illustrate the wider demand,” he added.
Mr Bruton said the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG) confirmed to him that the criteria for the process were applied “in a fair and transparent manner” and that the recommendations regarding patronage were “in accord with these requirements and criteria and gave due regard to the levels of parental demand demonstrated in the applications.”
Both happiness and heartbreak for parents in the Minister for Education & Skills’ announcement re new schools
May 19, 2016
Both happiness and heartbreak for parents in the Minister for Education & Skills’ announcement re new schools
Celebration in South Dublin with the announcement by Minister Bruton that a new Irish-medium multi-denominational primary school is to open in the area. Disappointment and disbelief however in the same announcement for the huge number of parents who supported the application for a multi-denominational Irish-medium school in the Marino, Drumcondra, Dublin 1 area, an application that has been denied by the Minister and the Department of Education.
A new multi-denominational Irish-medium school for the Stillorgan/Goatstown area
Gaelscoileanna Teo. would like to congratulate the community behind the new multi-denominational Irish-medium primary school that has been given permission to open this coming September by the new Minister for Education & Skills, Richard Bruton, following a successful application for the patronage of the school by An Foras Pátrúnachta.
“Of the 3 new primary schools due to open in September 2016, we really welcome this announcement by Minister Bruton that one of them is to be an Irish-medium school”, said Clare Spáinneach, Senior Policy & Development Officer with Gaelscoileanna Teo. “It’s a very positive decision that will ensure that Irish-medium education will be available as a choice for parents interested in immersion education for their children; a model of education that offers huge benefits to children of all kinds. These schools will cater for children from different linguistic, cultural and religious backgrounds and will help to meet the huge demand for multi-denominational Irish-medium education”.
The school will open under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta. Suitable accommodation for the school will be arranged with the assistance of the Department of Education over the coming weeks, and a principal will be appointed by the patron. The school will open with junior infants in September. Parents interested in registering their children for a place should contact Cormac Mc Cashin, Administration & Support Manager with An Foras Pátrúnachta: email cormac@foras.ie or call 01 629 4110.
Parents in North Dublin left without a choice for their children
It’s a huge disappointment, however, to the communities in Marino, Drumcondra and Dublin 1 that the demand for Irish-medium education in those areas has not been recognised. “The founding committee in the area have done incredible work since the area was identified as one for development by the Department of Education, and we received 733 expressions of interest from local parents” said Ciara Ní Bhroin, Development Officer with Gaelscoileanna Teo. and director of the local campaign. “The Irish-medium schools in the area are unable to cater for the current levels of demand for places, and there is no Irish-medium multi-denominational school available in the locality. The establishment of this new school, which will teach through English, will not cater for the wishes of these parents for their children’s education, and there is nowhere else for them to go”. Gaelscoileanna Teo. will repeal the Department of Education’s decision not to grant recognition to the Irish-medium school, and will continue to campaign for the educational rights of the 733 children who were on the list for the proposed school.
Gaelscoileanna Teo. is 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. 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 for Irish-medium preschools and schools.
(Gaeilge) Scéim Iasachta Trealaimh do Naíonraí
April 27, 2016
The Advantages of Bilingual Education – Longford, March 2nd
February 24, 2016
Parents and anyone with an interest in education, language and children’s development are invited to come along to this free public lecture. The guest speaker on the night will be Dr. Hywel Lewis, renowned expert on the subject of the cognitive benefits of bilingual education; how children gain much more than a new language and become more capable, confident learners in a bilingual environment.
The talk will be followed by a Q&A session with a panel which will include Yvonne Ní Mhurchú, principal of Gaelscoil Longfoirt, and parents will be given the opportunity to ask any questions they might have about what it means to send a child to a Gaelscoil. Will they understand the teacher? Will parents be able to help with their homework? Will the children be able to read as well in English? Join us for a friendly and open discussion with an internationally-recognised expert in the field.
Further information is available on www.gaelscoileanna.ie or by contacting Clare on 01 8535193. This event is being organised by Gaelscoileanna Teo. and Conradh na Gaeilge to promote awareness of Irish-medium education.
Language Support Scheme
February 8, 2016
Gaelscoileanna Teo. is running a pilot scheme to support naíonra staff and non-teaching school staff members who wish to improve their Irish or undertake the TEG examination. The scheme allows staff members to undertake training in Irish at any level and run by any provider. Under the scheme you can apply for support to sit the TEG exam, attend night classes, online courses, specialist courses, intensive grammar courses, Irish courses in the Gaeltacht, etc., organised by providers such as:
- Conradh na Gaeilge
- Gaelchultúr
- Gael Linn
- Glór na nGael
- Third-level institutes
- Local Education Centres
- Oideas Gael
- Ranganna.com
- Local schools
- Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (exam only)
This list is intended only as a guide, you may apply for support to attend courses run by other providers. You could also arrange to have a trainer deliver a course tailored to the needs of your naíonra/school or in association with other naíonraí/schools in the area. Applications from more than one stiúrthóir in the naíonra or one member of school staff are welcome. If you have already registered for a course but have not yet attended, you can apply for a refund of fees already paid. You can also make an application based on a course you have not yet registered for but plan to undertake at a later date; simply provide the course details as part of your application. You cannot apply for a refund of fees for a course you have already undertaken.
Now’s your chance! We have a limited budget for the scheme and applications will be approved on a first-come-first-served basis. The closing date for applications is 18th December 2015. To make an application, all you need to do is complete the simple online form below.
If you have any questions regarding the scheme, contact Sandra on 01 8535194 or sandra@gaelscoileanna.ie.
Conditions
- Applications must be submitted in writing before any expenditure will be approved.
- The closing date for applications is December 18th 2015.
- The maximum available per staff member is €200.
- Fees will be paid on the provision of a receipt or by invoice from the training provider only. A receipt or invoice and payee details will be requested once the application has been approved and you do not need to submit them in advance.
- You cannot apply for a refund of fees for a course you have already undertaken.
- Applications will be processed in the order in which they are received by the office and according to the scheme’s limited budget.
- Applications that cannot be approved due to excess demand will be put on a waiting list.
- Gaelscoileanna Teo. reserves the right to revoke funds in the event of misuse.
- This scheme is open to naíonraí in the 26 counties and outside of Gaeltacht areas and to Irish-medium schools in the 32 counties only.
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(Gaeilge) Le Chéile Trí Ghaeilge 2016
February 8, 2016
Aistear and Síolta – Workshop on the NCCA Practice Guide for Naíonra Educators
December 7, 2015
Clarion Hotel, Cork
11-13.30 on the 9th of January, 2016
A workshop for naíonra educators based on the new Practice Guide from the NCCA
There is no charge for the workshop but participants must register before December 18th 2015 to confirm their attendance. To register, contact Jill on 01 8535195 or oifig@gaelscoileanna.ie.
