Ard-Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge passes emergency motion on Irish-medium education
April 9, 2013
Irish speakers from all over the country gathered at the Canal Court Hotel in Newry, Co. Down at the weekend to discuss issues regarding the language at Conradh na Gaeilge’s 2013 Ard-Fheis.
A wide range of topics were discussed during workshops, forums and at the Ard-Fheis talk.
Guest speakers Niall Comer, President of Comhaltas Uladh, Seán Ó Coinn, Deputy CEO of Foras na Gaeilge and Cormac Ó hEaghra, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta took to the floor to discuss the theme ‘120 Years of Growth and What Is Ahead Of Us’ drawing attention to important issues including the recent closure of Irish language newspaper ‘Gaelscéal’, uncertainty regarding the office of An Coimisinéir Teanga, decisions made by the Government on the future of the language and the barrier in communication between the 20 Year Strategy and the general Irish Language community.
Two motions were unanimously passed during the Ard-Fheis as well as an emergency motion. The first motion calls for the recognition of the Irish language and Gaeltacht community as a stakeholder in the implementation of the Irish-Language Strategy in the north from the outset, and the second for the establishment of a crucial high-level structure between authorities and Irish-language community organisations to ensure the effective implementation of The 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 – 2030 in the south.
A third, emergency motion, suggested by committee member Pádraig Mac Fheargusa was passed which says: “Taking into account opinions published in the media recently regarding the Education Minister’s attitude towards entrance policies for Irish-medium primary and secondary schools, Ard-Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge suggests that such policies should be left alone regardless of parents’ and children’s background in the Irish language.”
These motions will be presented to the relevant state ministers as well as Foras na Gaeilge, recognised language planning experts and Irish language organisations.
Donnchadh Ó hAodha, of the Cork Craobh Chúil Aodha branch, was also re-elected President of Conradh na Gaeilge during the events at the weekend.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Change in school enrolment policies
April 8, 2013
A chara, – I wish to express my profound shock, disbelief and outrage at one aspect of the proposed changes to school enrolment policies put forward by Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn (Home News, April 3rd).
This policy has no place in the 21st century; indeed it was outrageous in the 19th century when it was first introduced. I refer to the proposal to force some Irish-speaking children from Irish-speaking families to attend English-speaking schools. This will happen bec a use under the guidelines Irish language schools will not be permitted to give priority to children from Irish speaking families. Irish-speaking families are a threat ened minorit y in t hi s State, all have made a lifelong commitment to the survival of the language by speaking it every day, and their children, especially at secondary level often travel long distances to their nearest Irish language school.
Like many of today’s policies, it discriminates yet again, disproportionately against rural areas because Irish-speaking families such as ourselves who live in rural Ireland find ourselves outside the catchment areas or feeder schools for existing Irish language secondary schools which are few in number Apart from being oppressive, this policy is clearly absurd, and bizarre. As an Irish-speaking family it seems an act of wanton cruelty to provide such schools and then to deny entry to those of u s who mos t passionately want to make use of them. – Is mise, SÉAMUS Ó DRISCEOIL, Oileán Cléire Co Chorcaí.
www.irishtimes.com
€1.6m cost in translation
April 8, 2013
TAXPAYERS have been hit with a bill of at least €1.6million for translating exam papers, reports, leaflets and other papers into Irish.
State bodies must get all documents of “major public importance” translated ‘as gaeilge’ to comply with the Official Languages Act. But many of the Irish versions are NEVER read. A probe carried out by the Irish Sun found the bill for 63 departments, councils and other government agencies for 2012 comes to at least €1.6million. These costs apply to outside contracts only so do not include the time spent by officials and civil servants in translating documents internally as part of their job. The State Examinations Office, under the control of the Department of Education, had the highest bill of €900,000. This went on translating marking schemes and producing Irish exams.
Minister Ruairi Quinn’s department also splashed out €106,000 on gaeilge versions of leaflets, application forms and press releases. NAMA, the NTMA and the National Pension Reserve Fund paid out €23,462 for putting annual reports into Irish. An Post spent €7,179 for Irish versions of State Savings forms and brochures. Councils were big spenders too, as annual reports and development plans must be translated under the Act. Kerry County Council has 21 Irish officers who do most of its translation. But it still paid out €14,133 for an Irish version of the Dingle Area Local Area Plan. Limerick County Council spent €12,246, with much of this going on the gaeilge translation of the Cappamore Local Area Plan.
Meath had the biggest bill for a council, spending €47,210, with €33,309 to translate the county’s development plan. The Department of Social Protection carried out 372 projects, at a cost of €47,000, on reports, info booklets and its website. And the Department of Health spent €5,436 to translate the National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Report into Irish. The Department of Children had a bill totalling €51,577. The National Transport Authority racked up spending of €?4,362 — including getting taxi-customer information cards put into Irish. The Central Bank splashed €67,000 for Irish translation. Others obliged to put documents into Irish included Teagasc, the Irish Aviation Authority, the Competition Authority, Crafts Council of Ireland and the National Milk Agency.
www.thesun.ie
Oidhreacht Theach Ard na bhFeá á comóradh
April 8, 2013
Meeting about the new gaelscoil in Firhouse, April 9th
April 5, 2013
A meeting will be held for those who would like to be part of the founding committee (parents committee) for the new Gaelscoil in Firhouse on Tuesday, April 9th.
The meeting will be held in Coláiste de hÍde in Tallaght ( www.colaistedehide.ie ) at 7pm and will last for an hour.
If you would like to attend this meeting, please email eolas@foras.ie.
Branar ag léiriú Clann Lir i mBarra an Teampaill
April 5, 2013
Minister’s statement on enrolment practices in Irish-medium schools based on inaccurate information
April 5, 2013
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. has expressed disappointment at the statement made by the Minister for Education and Skills on the review of enrolment policies in schools, as reported in the Irish Independent on the 4th of April under the headline “Irish language schools targeted over restrictive entrance rules”. The reported statement alleged restrictive practices in the enrolment process in Irish-medium primary and post-primary schools.
The Minister recently announced that a draft bill is to go before the Oireachtas to legislate for enrolment and entrance policies in all schools. According to the Minister’s statement, the basis of the draft bill will be that, among other things, there will be a single system for every type of school, regardless of the language ethos of the school. The draft bill arises from consultations between the Minister and education partners in 2011, in which GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. took part. The submission made by GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. to the Department of Education and Skills on this matter confirmed that Irish-medium schools have an open and comprehensive system where children from all backgrounds are welcome. The submission recognised the challenge presented by the level of demand for places in some schools, which means that not every child who applies for a place can be given the opportunity to be educated through the medium of Irish. In the case of these schools in particular, the submission recognised the necessity of protecting the language policy and ethos of the school.
The statement reported in the Irish Independent demonstrated a profound misunderstanding of the system. The schools’ practice shows clearly that Irish-medium schools welcome families with all levels of ability in the Irish language as well as families who don’t speak any Irish but who have an interest in the language, a direct contradiction of the Minister’s statement as reported. The president of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO., Máirín Ní Chéileachair, has questioned the research on which the statement was based and she has recommended that “the real cause of the problem be addressed, which is that the availability of school places does not meet demand. If there were sufficient school places to meet the huge demand for Irish-medium education there would not be a need to legislate for this. This legislation will impact on the 30% of Irish-medium primary schools and 20% of Irish-medium post-primary schools that cannot cater for the demand for places in their schools. Instead of increasing provision, a long-term solution that would satisfy the wishes of parents seeking Irish-medium education for their children, the schools are being accused of restrictive practice and elitism.” The same article in the Irish Independent stated incorrectly that there are around 100 Irish-medium post-primary schools in Ireland; there are just 35 in the Republic of Ireland, 5 in Northern Ireland and 21 teaching through Irish in Gaeltacht areas.
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. will continue to consult directly with the Minister, the Department of Education and Skills and public representatives on this matter to ensure that the Irish language and Irish-medium education are fairly represented.
Further information:
Máirín Ní Chéileachair, President, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.
0872861655 | mairinnicheileachair@gmail.com
Nóra Ní Loingsigh, Vice CEO, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.
01 8535191 | nora@gaelscoileanna.ie
Seachtain na Gaeilge in the Quay School Westport goes viral
April 5, 2013
The students of the Quay School in Westport who took part in Mamma Mia as Gaeilge.
The Quay School in Westport was taken totally by surprise last week when a short video recording they made as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge was viewed almost 8,000 times.
As part of Seachtain na Gaeilge a large range of activities was organised to take place in the school over several days. These activities included setting up an Irish speaking restaurant in the school for a day, recording children presenting the “School News” and hosting several traditional music sessions in the school hall. A teoraíocht taisce (treasure hunt) was organised for third and fourth classes and younger children took part in bingo – as Gaeilge.
The whole idea of organising these activities was to present Irish language and culture in a fun way for children to use. The enthusiasm of the children was electric. Congratulations to the children and teachers involved and in particular to Katrina Chambers for her work in co-ordinating the different activities.
For one of these activities, the sixth class pupils worked with their class teacher, Susan Murray, to produce a version of Mamma Mia, as Gaeilge. Numerous practice sessions took place in the school over the course of the week, and on Friday, Mamma Mia was ready.
All of the children in the school were invited to the school hall and sixth class dressed in 1970s style clothing. There was a really wonderful atmosphere in the hall as Mamma Mia was performed and a short recording of the performance was added to the school website.
Over the course of the weekend, a large number of past pupils logged onto the school website and emailed messages of congratulations to the children.
www.advertiser.ie/mayo
Gaelscoil enrolment
April 5, 2013
It has recently been revealed that the Education Minister Ruairi Quinn intends to review the selection process in schools.
In the near future we will most likely be informed that the planned overhaul is purely intended to end discriminatory selection practices.
However, one has to fear that unfortunately the primary motivation is somewhat less laudable and perhaps more ideological in origin, one which is rooted in the traditional ultra-pluralist socialist agenda of the Labour Party. This is an agenda that appears to believe that multiculturalism is good for multiculturalism’s sake, regardless of whether it has majority support.
The ramifications of this policy for the Irish language community, especially in high-density urban areas, may be quite serious as the vast majority of Gaelscoileanna attempt to enrol students who have at least one Irish-speaking parent.
If the minister prohibits this enrolment technique he will be inadvertently dealing a further blow to the Irish language by making it considerably more difficult for the children of Gaeilgeoir parents to access oideachas lan Gaeilge, thereby reducing the languages prospects by misguidedly restricting its most dedicated advocates.
Paul Ryder
Balgriffin, Dublin 13
www.independent.ie
Imeachtaí Scoile mar chuid d’Fhéile Litríochta BÁC
April 4, 2013
