Schools plan adds 7,500 places
Lúnasa 30, 2013
Unions say 15 new schools, 3 extensions are barely adequate to meet demand
INTO says 10,000 pupils starting school will add to overcrowding at primary level
Fifteen new schools will open across the State this autumn and three more have undergone extensions, together providing almost 7,500 permanent school places. But this is barely enough to keep up with growing demand, according to a teachers’ union.
The 18 new and extended schools were built under the “rapid delivery programme”, a fast-track scheme launched in 2007 to deliver schools quickly in areas experiencing rapid growth, where there is no existing school or the existing provision is unable to meet demand.
Together, the 14 primary and four postprimary schools will provide 7,488 permanent places, the Department of Education said. The pupils would benefit from “modern, energy-efficient buildings and improved learning environments”, a spokeswoman said.
Overcrowding
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation argues, however, that the extra 10,000 new pupils starting school this year would cause more overcrowding in primary schools.
A record 70,000 new pupils will enter the system in 2013, said INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan. Irish primary classes were already the second-most crowded in the EU, with an average of 24.5 pupils, she said. The EU average is 20, and Luxembourg is the country with the lowest at 15.
The Irish figure was an average, and at the most crowded end of the scale Ireland had more than 100,000 children in classes of 30 pupils, she said.
The largest class sizes were found in counties Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. Other schools with large class sizes were found in urban centres in Limerick, Cork and Waterford.
Growing population
While the new school places were very welcome, they are barely able to keep up with the rise in pupil numbers, said Peter Mullan of the INTO. “That is just keeping pace with the demand for more spaces in a growing population,” he said.
All but six of the new schools are ready for use, but of these six, four are only days away from completion, the department said. Another, in Navan, is due for completion later this month and another, in Carlow, by late October. Nine of the new schools are in constituencies where a Government Minister holds a seat.
The department uses a geographical information system to assess the likely changes to the schoolgoing population in those areas, the spokeswoman said.
New Schools
Primary Schools
Carlow Educate Together NS Co Carlow
Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin, Clonakilty Co Cork
Carrigaline Educate Together NS Co Cork
Scoil Phádraig Naofa, Rochestown Co Cork
Portlaoise Educate Together NS Co Laois
Gaelscoil Phortlaoise Co Laois
Maryborough NS, Portlaoise Co Laois
St Francis NS, Blackrock Co Louth
St Stephen’s NS, c/o St Martha’s College, Johnstown Co Meath
Gaelscoil Inis Córthaidh, Enniscorthy Co Wexford
Greystones Educate Together NS Co Wicklow
Postprimary Schools
Luttrellstown Community College, Blanchardstown Dublin 15
Lusk Community College, Lusk Co Dublin
Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, Claregalway Co Galway
Coláiste na Mí, Navan Co Meath
Extensions
Gaelscoil Moshíólóg, Bóthar Charn an Bhua, Guaire Co Wexford
Scoil Choilm, Porterstown Rd, Clonsilla Dublin 15
Skerries Educate Together NS, Barnageeragh Cove, Skerries Co Dublin
www.irishtimes.com
Tionscadal Náisiúnta: ‘Life’s Like This’
Lúnasa 29, 2013
Teastaíonn uainn go mbeadh tusa páirteach inár dtionscadal náisiúnta: Life’s Like This
Ar Dé hAoine 20ú Meán Fómhair teastaíonn uainn go ndéanfá scannánú ar do shaol agus a thaispeáint don domhan mór cad tá ar siúil agat, cad a fheiceann tú agus cad a bhraitheann tú ar lá áirithe amháin. Cuirfear le chéile na
píosaí scannáin i bhfoirm chlár fáisnéise agus craolfar ar RTÉ é níos déanaí sa bhliain. Foghlaimeoidh an lucht féachana conas mar atá sé do dhaoine óga a bheith ag fás aníos in Éirinn inniu.
Do chlársa fáisnéise é Life’s Like This. Fútsa atá sé. Faoi do lá-sa. Faoi na rudaí atá tábhachtach dar LEATSA. Tá fáilte roimh éinne idir 13 agus 19 bheith páirteach ann. Beidh breis sonraí Life’s Like This ar fáil ó Mheán Fómhair ar aghaidh ar www.rte.ie/trte/lifeslikethis.
Is féidir do scannán a uaslódáil ar www.rte.ie/trte/lifeslikethis ón Aoine 20ú Meán Fómhair go dtí Dé Máirt, 24ú Meán Fómhair.
CONAS AGUS CAD LE SCANNÁNÚ
• Is féidir AON RUD A THAIFEAD AR AON GHLÉAS.
• Déan scannánú le guthán, ceamara, wecam, iPad… do rogha fhéin. Má dhéanann sé scannánú, is féidir é a úsáid. Ach led’ thoil, déan iarracht caighdeán ard a bhaint amach!
• Tá fuaim agus fócas tábhachtach. Is gá go mbeimis ábalta an t-ábhar a fheiscint agus chloisint go soiléir.
• Úsáid teanga ar bith – Gaeilge, Béarla, Polainnis, Fraincís …&rl
• Bíodh do scannán 2 nóim ar fhad ar a mhéid.
• Ag tús an scannáin inis d’ainm dúinn agus cén t-am ag a bhfuil tú ag scannánú.
• Is féidir scannánú a dhéanamh ag aon am den lá agus/nó iomaí uair sa lá chomh fada’s gur ar 20ú Meán Fómhair atá sé.
DO SCANNÁN A CHUR AR FÁIL DÚINN
• Spriocdháta taiscthe ná 8 i.n. ar Dé Máirt 24ú Meán Fómhair.
• Cuimhnigh, faigh cead sara ndéanann tú scannánú.
• Ní úsáidfear ach na scannáin lena sheoltar foirm cheadúnais atá sínithe ag an mbeirt thuismitheoir. Is gá go mbeadh foirm cheadúnais sínithe ag a dtuismitheoirí (nó acu fhéin má tá siad os cionn 18 d’aois) ag gach éinne atá faoi thuairisc i do scannán. Is féidir leat iad ar fad a uaslódáil nó iad a sheoladh le chéile.
• Sara ndéanann tú duine a scannánú faigh cead uathu.
• Má tá scanóir agat, déan scanáil ar an bhfoirm cheadúnais agus déan uaslódáil air in éineacht le do scannán ag baint úsáid as an ngléas ar thaobh na lámha deise.
• Agus tú ag uaslódáil, breac síos uimhir ghutháin póca / uimhir theangmhála do thuistí AGUS ainm gach éinne atá faoi thuairisc i do scannán san áit go bhfuil MESSAGE (an-tábhachtach!).
• Muna bhfuil teacht agat ar scanóir, is féidir cóip chrua des na foirmeacha cheadúnais a sheoladh go Life’s Like This, Macalla Teoranta, 7 Sráid Lombaird Thoir, BÁC 2, ach bí cinnte de go bhfuil ainm iomlán do scannáin luaite ar an bhfoirm.
• Nuair atá do scannán á shábháil agat ar do ríomhaire cur d’ainm fhéin mar ainm air (céad ainm agus sloinne).
• Muna féidir leat do scannán a uaslódáil, seol é go: Life’s Like This, Macalla Teoranta, 7 Sráid Lombaird Thoir, BÁC 2. Ní seolfar an chóip seo ar ais chugat.
• Bainfear úsáid as réimse leathan scannáin sa chlár fáisnéise, ach ar an ndrochuair ní bheidh gach scannán san áireamh.
• Fiosrúcháin go: lifeslikethis2013@gmail.com nó guthán: 01 670 4012 nó 01 670 4895
CUIMHNIGH LE DO THOIL:
MUNA BHFUIL FOIRM CHEADÚNAIS SHÍNITHE AGAINN DO GACH ÉINNE ATÁ FAOI THUAIRISC I DO SCANNÁN – NÍ BHEIMID ÁBALTA DO SCANNÁN A ÚSÁID SA CHLÁR FÁISNÉISE.
ÍOSLÓDÁIL AN FHOIRM CHEADÚNAIS Ó www.rte.ie/trte/lifeslikethis AGUS SEOL CHUGAINN É AG: Life’s Like This, Macalla Teo, 7 Sráid Lombaird Thoir, BÁC 2.
Ar Dé hAoine 20ú Meán Fómhar is déantóir scannán tú.
Is cuid den stair tú.
Déan rud éigin réadúil, cur daoine ag machnamh.
Fútsa atá sé.
BREIS EOLAIS
Ar Dé Aoine 20ú Meán Fómhair teastaíonn uainn go ndéanfá scannánú ar 2 nóim ar an uasmhéid de do lá. Aon ábhar agus gach ábhar:
• Coinne leis an bhfiaclóir
• Obair bhaile á dhéanamh ar an mbus
• Bearradh gruaige
• Amhrán
• Am crúite na mbó ar éirí na gréine
• Oíche amuigh le cairde
• An teaghlach ag teacht le chéile
• Ocáid spórtúil
• Físeán mearscaipthe nó seisiúin Facebook
Foilsithe ag Macalla Teo.
After 19 years on road Gaelscoil gets €3.15m home
Lúnasa 29, 2013
A Gaelscoil that started out in a dancehall 19 years ago moved to a permanent home in a ¤3.147 million purpose-built school in Clonakilty, Co Cork, yesterday.
There were high-fives from local priest Fr Eddie Collins as the children of Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin climbed the steps to the new building.
Principal Carmel Nic Airt, who started out with 17 students on September 1st, 1994, has overseen classes in a former Church of Ireland teacher’s residence, a mobile home, a holiday home and a bank.
“This is the culmination of 19 years’ effort. It’s what I’ve worked for, and what I’ve wanted, and to think it’s happened is so gratifying.”
Ms Nic Airt, who collected the keys to the new school on Fernhill Road just 24 hours previously, praised the co-operation and leadership of the Department of Education.
“They are a much maligned body who really have stood behind us right from the very beginning,” she said.
‘Tabtop’ facilities
The Gaelscoil is home to a gateway technology project which has equipped 40 students in fifth and sixth class with interactive “tabtops” linked to a TV screen that replaces the traditional whiteboard.
Part-sponsored by Intel and German electronics company Grundig, the tabtops are a cross between laptops and tablets and will phase out the need for heavy schoolbags.
“The teachers need never raise their voice again; just send a message to a particular child that might not be co-operating, with no need to disturb the class,” Ms Nic Airt said.
Some 200 students took part in a march from the school’s former rented premises at Clarke Street through the town centre to arrive at their new school for a formal flag-raising ceremony yesterday.
The 265 pupils and 25 staff will have the use of 12 classrooms, three autistic spectrum disorder rooms including an early intervention unit, four support rooms and a general hall as well as playground areas.
Wish list
“If somebody told you ‘sit down and write a wish list for a school with everything you could want’, this is that and more, because there are things here that I would never have dreamed of,” Ms Nic Airt said.
www.irishtimes.com
Pupils march their way to new school
Lúnasa 29, 2013
It was a long, long, road which, in the end, culminated in a short walk that brought a town to a standstill. People lined the streets of Clonakilty , Co Cork, yesterday to cheer hundreds of pupils as they walked from a rented school to a new, state-of-the-art €3.17m home.
A gaelscoil was founded in the West Cork town in 1994 and, since then, pupils and staff had a fairly nomadic life. Yesterday represented their seventh and, hopefully, final move. Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin is named in honour of locally-born General Michael Collins, the state’ s first finance minister.
Among the teachers is Lorna Ni hAoda who had been a pupil at the gaelscoil in 1996. “At the time, we were in a house in Emmet Square. We had three classrooms and no proper facilities. There was no hall and a tiny yard. The facilities here are amazing. It’s absolutely beautiful. It’ s like all our Christmases have come together,” she said.
Principal Carmel Nic Airt, meanwhile, was the first teacher to launch the gaelscoil with 20pupils. “At one point, from 1999 to 2009, we were in a field with 29 prefabs. There was damp everywhere and, every weekend, we had to spray the walls to get rid of the mould, ” she said. “Now we have 12 mainstream classroom, three ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) units, four support units, basketball courts and a soft surface play areas for autistic pupils. If you were to write a wish list for a school this has everything and more. ”
The pupils vacated the school’s last leased accommodation, at The Waterfront yesterday, walking behind a garda escort provided by local gardaí Liam Ryan and Keith Prendergast. As they strode through the town, people spilled out of shops and clapped them all the way to their new home at Fernhill Rd on the western side of the town.
Parent Carmel Brennan described it as “a wonderful and historic day”. She said some of the conditions pupils had endured over the years “were less than ideal”. As the children entered the school, they gave ‘high fives’ to curate Fr Eddie Collins. They then sang the national anthem and raised their own
school flag. Relatives of General Michael Collins, including grandnephew Maurice Collins, grandniece Fidelma Collins and great grandniece Muirenn O’Sullivan, were among the guests of honour. She told pupils Collins would be very honoured to have the school named after him.
To cap the occasion, Timothy Crowley, who runs a local Michael Collins Interpretive Centre, presented the school with a small replica statue of the great man. It’ s a miniature, but an exact copy of a seven-feet high sculpture, unveiled by actor Liam Neeson in the town’ s Emmet Square 11 years ago.
www.irishexaminer.com
FNT ar lorg breis teagascóirí le cur le painéal teagascóra na heagraíochta
Lúnasa 28, 2013
Tá Forbairt Naíonraí Teoranta (FNT) ag iarraidh cur le painéal teagascóirí na heagraíochta fud fad na tíre faoi na réimsí seo a leanas:
- Sraith Seimineár NUA Céimeanna Móra (Pleanáil Teanga (Céimeanna Beaga), Ardchaighdeán (Sárshaothar sa Naíonra) & Breathnóireacht ar Shealbhú Teanga (Scéim Phíolótach FNT) sa Naíonra
- Sraith Seimineár: Aistrithe ón Naíonra go dtí an Gaelscoil
- Sraith Seimineár: Réamhlitearthacht & réamhuimhearthacht sa Naíonra
- Sraith Seimineár: Tábhacht an tSúgartha sa Naíonra
- Sraith Seimineár ar aon cheann de na Téamaí indibhidiúla Aistear:
- Folláine agus Leas, Féiniúlacht agus Muintearas, Cumarsáid, Taiscéalaíocht agus Smaointeoireacht.
- Sraith Seimineár ar aon cheann de na Caighdeáin indibhidiúla Síolta:
- Cearta an Pháiste, Timpeallachtaí, Tuismitheoirí agus Teaghlaigh, Comhairliúchán, Idirghníomhartha, Súgradh, Curaclam, Pleanáil agus Meastóireacht, Sláinte agus Leas, Eagrú, Cleachtas Gairmiúil, Cumarsáid, Aistrithe, Féiniúlacht agus Muintearas, Reachtaíocht agus Rialú, Rannpháirtíocht an Phobail.
- Dianchúrsa FNT: An Cháilíocht Stiúrthóra (aon cheann acu seo thíos)
- An Luaththumadh & Sealbhú na Gaeilge
- Puipéid & Scéalaíocht sa Naíonra
- Ceol agus Gluaiseacht
- Pleanáil lae an Naíonra
- Clár Bliana an Naíonra
- Drámaíocht sa Naíonra
- Sábháilteacht sa Naíonra
- Gaineamh agus Uisce
- Ag Réiteach Fadhbanna
- An Cúinne Ealaíne Cruthaitheach
- Céimeanna Beaga
- Spraoi Lasmuigh agus An Dúlra Laistigh
- Fáilte agus Aidhmeanna an Chúrsa
- Ról an Naíonra i gCothú na Gaeilge sa Bhaile agus sa Phobal
- Leanúnachas ón Naíonra go dtí an Ghaelscoil
- Sárshaothar sa Naíonra – Clár d’Ardchaighdeán
- Tábhacht an tSúgartha
- Cúrsa Chéimeanna Beaga (Bunchúrsa Gaeilge Fheidhmeach d’oibrithe Naíonra)
- Ceardlann Chruinnis sa Ghaeilge (dírithe ar chúrsaí cruinnis agus scríobh na Gaeilge).
- Cúrsa Athnuachana Garchabhrach
- Cúrsa sa Gharchabhair oibre (ag plé Naíonra)
- Cúrsa BunGhaeilge do Thuismitheoirí / d’Fheighlithe Leanaí.
Más spéis leat spás ar phainéal teagascóra FNT seol do Churaclam Vitae chugainn ag sean@naionrai.ie. Breis eolais ar fáil ó Sheáin ag 01-8535142.
Eagraíonn FNT ár gcúrsaí go léir trí Ghaeilge agus beidh an cinneadh deiridh ag FNT maidir le rith aon cheann de na cúrsaí oiliúna seo.
Trí Ghaelscoil nua le hoscailt ag an bhForas Pátrúnachta
Lúnasa 28, 2013
Cuirfidh na príomhoidí ar trí Ghaelscoil nua atá faoi phátrúnacht An Fhorais Phátrúnachta, fáilte roimh a gcéad daltaí amárach (29 Lúnasa).
Is scoileanna Ilchreidmheacha iad Gaelscoil na Giúise i dTeach na Giúise, Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua sa Chéim agus Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha i mBaile Chill Dara. Tosóidh siad amach le naíonáin bheaga amháin i mbliana. Creidtear go dtiocfaidh fás agus forbairt ar na Gaelscoileanna nua seo go tapaidh.
I mí an Mhárta 2012, d’aithin an Roinn Oideachais an t-éileamh ar Ghaeloideachais sna ceantair seo agus fógraíodh go n-osclófaí Gaelscoil faoi phátrúnacht an Fhorais Phátrúnachta iontu. Tá na hullmhúcháin do na scoileanna nua seo ar bun ó shin agus tá na príomhoidí nua ar bís faoin mbliain atá rompu.
“Léiríonn bunú na scoileanna nua seo an t-éileamh atá ar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge atá Ilchreidmheach agus ilchultúrtha,” arsa Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, Ard Rúnaí ar an bhForas Pátrúnachta.
“Cuireann sé ríméad ar an bhForas Pátrúnachta a bheith in ann freastal ar na tuismitheoirí agus ar na daltaí seo trí scoileanna agus oideachas den scoth a sholáthar. Cinntíonn scoileanna an Fhorais fás, forbairt agus leathnú na teanga ní hamháin i measc daltaí agus pobal na scoile ach i measc pobal iomlán an cheantair.”
Tá Fionnuala Ní Riain, príomhoide ar Ghaelscoil na Giúise, ag súil le ré nua Ghaeilge a chothú i dTeach na Giúise. Dar le Conchur Ó Raghallaigh, príomhoide Ghaelscoil Shliabh Rua, tá an tsuim sa Ghaeilge agus sa chultúr sa Chéim ag méadú.
“Is é Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua an dara Gaelscoil i mBaile Átha Cliath 18,” a dúirt sé. “Táim ag súil le bheith ag obair le Gaelscoil Thaobh na Coille chun an grá don teanga atá sa cheantar seo a fhorbairt tuilleadh.”
Tá Norma Ní Chonchúir, príomhoide Ghaelscoil Mhic Aodha, an-bhródúil as an éacht atá bainte amach ag pobal na scoile i mBaile Chill Dara cheana féin.
“Tá tuismitheoirí na scoile tar éis an-tacaíocht a thabhairt dom. Tá éide scoile álainn socraithe acu agus suaitheantas na scoile deartha acu. Táimid ag súil go mór leis an mbliain atá romhainn.”
Le haghaidh agallaimh nó tuilleadh eolais, dean teagmháil le:
Orla Bradshaw :: orla@foras.ie :: 01-6294110
Bunaíodh An Foras Pátrúnachta sa bhliain 1993 ionas go mbeadh rogha eile ag scoileanna maidir le pátrúnacht. Is pátrúnacht náisiúnta é An Foras Pátrúnachta do scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge ag an mbunleibhéal agus ag an meánleibhéal. Tá An Foras Pátrúnachta ina Phátrún ar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge a bhfuil éiteas Caitliceach, Ilchreidmheach, agus Idirchreidmheach (Caitliceach /Protastúnach) acu.
Eolas do Thuismitheoirí ón CNCM
Lúnasa 27, 2013
Tá go leor comhairle agus bileoga eolais foilsithe ag an CNCM a dhíríonn ar tuismitheoirí agus tacaíocht dá bpáistí ar scoil, agus iad ar fáil go dátheangach. Féach www.ncca.ie, áit ar féidir na bileoga a íoslódáil.
€742,438 ceadaithe don Scéim Cúntóirí Teanga don bhliain 2013/2014
Lúnasa 27, 2013
D’fhógair Aire Stáit na Gaeltachta, Donnchadh Mac Fhionnlaoich T.D., an tseachtain seo caite go bhfuil € 742,438 ceadaithe aige chun an Scéim Cúntóirí Teanga a reáchtáil.
Díríonn an Scéim seo, atá ar an bhfód ó 1999, ar shaibhreas Gaeilge pháistí na Gaeltachta a threisiú chun an Ghaeilge a láidriú mar theanga labhartha i measc gasúir bhunscoile.
I mí Aibreáin 2012 fógraíodh forbairtí ar an scéim mar ghné shuntasach den Chlár Tacaíochta Teaghlaigh mar chuid de Straitéis Fiche Bliain na Gaeilge. Faoin scéim seo, cuireann 80 cúntóir teanga seirbhísí ar fáil do 100 scoil Gaeltachta.
Roinnfear an deontas don scoilbhliain 2013/2014 ar dhá eagraíocht ar leith, Muintearas agus Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne. Déanann Muintearas an tseirbhís a riar do scoileanna Gaeltachta i nGaillimh, Maigh Eo, Dún na nGall agus Co. na Mí agus déanann Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne na seirbhísí sin a riar do scoileanna Gaeltachta i gCo. Chiarraí, Co. Chorcaí, agus Co. Phort Láirge.
Laghdú de 2.5% is ea deontas na bliana seo, anuas ó €762,378 don scoilbhliain 2011/2012. Cuireadh leasuithe substaintiúla i bhfeidhm ar an scéim seo anuraidh, le méadú de €150,000 breise curtha ar fáil anuraidh ná mar a cuireadh ar fáil don bhliain 2011/2012. Chuir an deontas méadaithe ar chumas na gcúntóirí teanga uaireanta teagmhála breise agus áiseanna breise a sholáthar don líon mór páistí a bhain tairbhe as an scéim.
Cuireadh tús le linn na scoilbhliana seo caite le gné nua den scéim seo, ‘Cluas sa Chlós’, chun cabhrú le nósmhaireacht teanga i measc na scoláirí taobh amuigh den seomra ranga ionas go mbeadh an Ghaeilge in úsáid mar ghnáth-theanga cumarsáide i gclós na scoile. Roimhe seo, dhírigh an scéim seo ar ghasúir gan Ghaeilge i scoileanna Gaeltachta, ach den chéad uair anuraidh rinneadh freastal ar leith ar na páistí a bhfuil Gaeilge ar a dtoil acu trí uaireanta breise a cheadú sna scoileanna Gaeltachta sin atá suite sna ceantair a bhfuil an Ghaeilge fós mar theanga pobail agus teaghlaigh iontu.
Ag labhairt dó agus é ag fógairt an deontais, dúir an tAire Stáit Gaeltachta: ““Is céim shuntasach eile é seo i bhfeidhmiú an Chláir Tacaíochta Teaghlaigh. Nuair a sheol mé an Clár sin i mí Aibreáin 2012, thagair mé don tábhacht a bhí le cur chuige leasaithe chun tacú go praiticiúil le teaghlaigh na Gaeltachta a bhfuil a bpáistí á dtógáil acu le Gaeilge nó a dteastaíonn uathu a bpáistí a thógáil le Gaeilge.
Mar gheall ar an gcúnamh atá á fhógairt inniu, beidh ar chumas an dá eagras a riarann Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga leanúint orthu ag tacú go gníomhach le caomhnú agus neartú na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht”.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Is Leor Beirt ar ais i gCeatharlach!
Lúnasa 27, 2013
Tar éis bhriseadh an tsamhraidh tá an ciorcal comhrá “Is Leor Beirt” ag filleadh ar ais i gCeatharlach.
Cuirfear tús arís leis an gCiorcal Gaeilge sa Leabharlann ar Shráid na Tulaí, Ceatharlach ar an Mháirt, 3ú Meán Fómhair agus tugtar cuireadh do dhaoine bualadh isteach ann aon am ó 10.30-11.30r.n. Leanfar le Is Leor Beirt gach maidin Mháirt as sin amach. Tugann ciorcal na maidine seo deis iontach do dhaoine nach n-oireann na ciorcail san oíche dóibh ar chúiseanna éagsúla. Cuirtear fáilte roimh gach éinne idir chainteoirí líofa, foghlaimeoirí agus iad siúd atá ar chúpla focal. Bíonn caint, comhrá agus comhluadar ann agus cupán tae ar fáil chomh maith! Buail isteach Máirt éigin agus bain triail as do Ghaeilge. Níl slua ag teastáil chun daoine a chur ag labhairt in áit ar bith ar domhan- Is Leor Beirt!
www.carlow-nationalist.ie
Doors to 11 new schools set to open
Lúnasa 27, 2013
Tears flowed for infants and parents parting at the classroom door for the first time, but they are not the only ones marking new beginnings this week.
The doors to 11 new schools will swing open over the coming days in response to the latest baby boom. These are newly established schools, separate to new buildings that may be occupied by existing schools. Among them are seven primary schools taking in their first infant classes, five in Dublin, and one each in counties Cork and Kildare. There are two new Galway second-level schools and one each in Dublin and Meath. All 11 are multi- denominational schools under the patronage of Educate Together, local education and training boards (formerly vocational education committees), or An Foras Pátrúnachta. Many are in temporary premises until new purpose-built schools are ready to occupy, but they will only be enrolling infant or first-year classes each year, so it will be a number of years before they all need to have permanent full-capacity accommodation.
The largest new primary school is the Rochestown Educate Together National School in the southside suburb of Cork. It will eventually have a 24-classroom school although it will not be completed this year. But the infant class has already had a taste of what lies ahead in their temporary home at the Douglas Hall soccer club grounds. A play day for incoming pupils at the weekend gave children and parents a chance to meet each other and their teacher Noirín Moore. “The children were very excited to see where their new school will be. We look forward to meeting them all for their first day of school on Thursday, and having a cup of tea or coffee with the parents to mark this special occasion in the lives of their family,” said principal Alan Sheehan. While there are no faith-based schools opening this year, two new denominational second-level schools are set to enrol their first students in 2014. Education Minister Ruairi Quinn announced a year ago that a Church of Ireland school is to open in Greystones, Co Wicklow.
A new school will also open in a year’s time in the Mulhuddart/ Tyrellstown area of Dublin under the patronage of Le Chéile Schools Trust. The eight other second- level schools set to open in Sept 2014 include three all-Irish schools, in Carrigaline, Co Cork, and Balbriggan and Dundrum in Dublin. An all-Irish unit is to be attached to a new school opening in Maynooth, Co Kildare, with the prospect of it becoming an independent Gaelcholáiste if enough enrolment interest is shown in the first four years.
www.irishexaminer.com
