Language Immersion Education in Minnesota by CARLA’s Immersion Project at the Univ of MN
July 21, 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.”
Letterkenny to receive €20k in funding for Irish language and Gaeltacht services
July 12, 2016
Letterkenny is set to receive €20,000 in funding for Irish Language Network and Gaeltacht services.
Donegal TD, Joe McHugh (FG), said, “I welcome the announcement from the Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources, Seán Kyne T.D. that he has approved funding of €85,000 for Foras na Gaeilge to commence the language process for the recognition of Irish Language Networks and Gaeltacht Service Towns under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, including up to €20,000 being made available for Letterkenny.
“I had the pleasure of announcing Letterkenny among the list of towns to be recognised as Gaeltacht Service Towns while serving as Minster for the Gaeltacht. This was a massive step forward in the language planning process as it relates to language communities outside the Gaeltacht being given statutory recognition as Gaeltacht Service Towns, and is an important step in achieving the objectives of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language.
“I wish to commend all of the stakeholders on their work to date and I hope they will continue working together in these towns to prepare and implement a language plan.”
www.donegalnow.com
(Gaeilge) Deiseanna an Ghaeilge a úsáid á gceilt ar 1,835 duine óg – Conradh na Gaeilge
July 8, 2016
(Gaeilge) ‘Thar a dlínse’ a bhí an Roinn Oideachais i gcás pholasaí Gaeilge Scoil Lorcáin
July 8, 2016
(Gaeilge) Uachtarán na hÉireann ag labhairt ar oideachas lán-Ghaeilge
June 27, 2016
President questions commitment to Irish language
June 27, 2016
President Michael D Higgins has questioned the commitment to the Irish language in the Government, Civil Service and public sector circles.
The President, addressing language groups and activists in Áras an Uachtaráin, said “serious questions” needed to be asked over the “lack of goodwill” towards Irish despite the introduction of legislative instruments such as the Official Languages Act 2003, designed to provide legal protection and support for the language.
In a wide-ranging speech, Mr Higgins said he was concerned at the lack of visibility of Irish in usage at the highest levels of the public service and that it was a shortcoming that had been a matter of concern to him for many years.
“Irish is rarely heard in Government departments at the highest level, in local authorities or in State bodies,” he said.
Mr Higgins added this was due to some cultural issue that “prevents them from showing the leadership what we expect of them [in regard to the language].”
Mr Higgins also said he had raised the issue of the availability of Irish-medium schooling with Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
Raised obstacles
The President said he had spoken of the obstacles faced by parents hoping to educate their children through Irish with the Taoiseach when they met for talks recently.
“We all understand the benefits of multilingualism and we have seen a huge increase in the number of parents seeking the gift of bilingualism for their children,” Mr Higgins said. “It is clear that the demand exists for more Irish language secondary schools to give these children the opportunity to continue their education through the medium of Irish, and it is only right that they should be able to do so.”
Campaigns
The President said he was aware of campaigns to establish Irish-medium schools across the country, and mentioned those in Portlaoise, Ballincollig, Co Cork, Dublin 15, north Kildare, Connemara, Sligo and on the northside of Cork city.
“I understand that those who are making every effort to establish schools to cater for this demand are still facing obstacles,” he told the gathered audience.
“I raised this during talks with the Taoiseach recently, and I inquired if there might be ways to remove these obstacles from those communities trying to provide Irish-medium secondary schooling.
“While I do not have a role in the area of education policy, it would be a failure of note if the State could not provide education to children in the first language.”
Mr Higgins said Ireland had a lot to learn from other countries about the provision of State services in a minority language and added that he intended to focus his attention on the challenges faced by the Irish language for the rest of this year.
www.irishtimes.ie
(Gaeilge) ‘Ceisteanna tromchúiseacha’ le freagairt maidir le toil an Stáit seirbhísí i nGaeilge a sholáthar
June 27, 2016
(Gaeilge) ‘Níl na hacmhainní againn ár ndualgais teanga a chur i bhfeidhm’ – Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe
June 27, 2016
Westport Gaelscoil shut early over health and safety concerns
June 27, 2016
SUMMER holidays came almost a week early for pupils at Westport’s Gaelscoil na Cruaiche this week when the Board of Management and principal took the decision to shut the building early on health and safety grounds.
In recent months there has been increasing concern over the structural integrity of the roof of the building, due to signs that it had been compromised. An engineer’s report this week stated that the building is not fit for purpose. This report was acted on immediately, and the school has been shut from today, Friday, June 24, until further notice.
The Department of Education, which was aware of the issues since they arose, has been informed of the decision to close the school. It is now hoped that the essential repair works can be carried out over the summer months.
Minister of State Michael Ring has been speaking to officials in Education Minister Richard Bruton’s Department. The entire school community at Gaelscoil na Cruaiche backs the decision taken to shut the building, with the health and safety of children and staff being of the utmost importance.
There are several issues with the roof, and a problem with the sewer system also. The cost of remedying the issues is not known. Nor is it known whether the Department of Education will fund the works or seek to have them addressed by the contractors who worked on the build project at Gaelscoil na Cruaiche.
However, if the work has not been completed by September it will create a real headache for pupils, teachers, parents and all involved at the progressive Westport school.
www.mayonews.ie
