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March 12, 2012
Minister Quinn announces details of 275 major school building projects – More than 15,000 jobs to be created over five years
March 12, 2012
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., today announced details of 219 new major school building projects which will begin over the next five years as part of a €2 billion capital investment programme. These new projects are in addition to 56 major school building projects that he already announced for 2012.
The five year plan outlines when the major projects will proceed to construction. These projects comprise:
- 106 new schools at primary level
- 65 large-scale extensions at primary level
- 43 new schools at second level
- 49 large-scale extensions at second level
- 8 new special schools and extensions for 4 further special schools.
Announcing the programme, Minister Quinn said: “In line with the Programme for Government, and the Government’s Capital Investment Programme, we are prioritising investment in school buildings during these tougher economic times.
“This investment in major school building projects will create an estimated 15,000 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs over the period of the programme (an annual average of 3,000 direct and 600 indirect jobs). A total of €1500 million (€1.5 billion) will be spent on these 275 projects.”
“This is very welcome news for the construction industry,” said Minister Quinn.
This is the first time that the Department of Education and Skills has published a five year plan for school buildings.
The Minister said that this will facilitate schools’ plans to meet local demand for places and will provide greater transparency in the operation of the school building programme.
“We have to ensure that every child growing up in Ireland can access a physical school place,” said the Minister.
“Our programme unveiled today means that schools and parents will be able to plan much better for their children’s education at a time when enrolments at both primary and second level are rising dramatically.”
Total enrolment is expected to grow by around 70,000 students between now and 2018 – by over 45,000 at primary level (currently 509,000 students) and 25,000 at post primary (currently 351,000). Second level enrolment is expected to continue to rise until at least 2024.
The plan will provide over 100,000 permanent school places, of which over 80,000 will be new school places. The remainder will be the replacement of temporary or unsatisfactory accommodation.
This substantial investment means that over 11% of the total school population will benefit from new permanent places delivered during 2012 – 2016.
As well as the five year plan, the DES publishes a detailed plan on an annual basis in relation to the planned expenditure on individual school projects.
Schools which have not been included in today’s plan, but which were announced for initial inclusion in the building programme will still progress to final planning stages in anticipation of further funds being available to the Department.
The five year plan also includes alternative methods of delivering projects. Agencies like the Office of Public Works, the Vocational Education Committees and the National Development Finance Agency, as well as county councils are all assisting with the delivery of over 80 major school projects.
Minister Quinn said “This example of co-operation means that projects will be accelerated and co-ordinated. This shows joined up thinking between Government Departments and Agencies in order to maximise the number of projects we deliver with best value for money for the tax-payer.”
Details of the individual projects are available here:
- 2012 projects already on site
- 2012 projects to go to construction
- 2013 projects
- 2014-15 projects
- 2015-16 projects
Recent birth rate data show that 19,950 births were registered in the first quarter of 2011. This was an increase of 7.6% in the number of births registered in the corresponding quarter of 2010. The figures, published by the Central Statistics Office, represent the highest number of births registered in any quarter since the series began in 1960. The birth data also show that 18,381 births were registered for the second quarter of 2011 and indicate a continuation of the high birth rates experienced in the last number of years.
The CSO birth rate data reinforces the Department of Education and Skills’ own projections that there will be an additional 30,850 primary school pupils requiring school places between now and 2014.
A further 14,200 pupils will need places between 2014 and 2018. Total enrolment in primary schools is expected to grow from 509,650 pupils in the last school year to 554,700 pupils in 2018. At second level, an additional 24,900 pupils will need places by 2017 with a further 40,800 pupils needing places between 2017 and 2024. This means an overall increase of 65,700 second-level pupils by 2024.
Criteria for selection for inclusion:
- Major school projects, including special schools, which will provide for significant additional capacity to meet demographic growth with a focus on rapidly developing areas, have been prioritised. Where a demographic demand has been identified, the need to provide for diversity in school provision has been taken into account.
- The level of contractual commitments related to expenditure in any given year.
- The stage of progression reached by each individual project in the architectural design process including the availability of sites in the case of new schools. In that regard, the scheduling of selected projects depends also on when such projects are technically ready to proceed to tender and construction.
- Additional accommodation to meet demographic growth and where the project also involves replacement of temporary or unsatisfactory accommodation.
Additions to Plan:
There will be a small number of additional projects, required for demographic reasons, which will need to proceed to construction in the lifetime of the Plan but which we are not in a position to announce in the Plan at this time. These are school projects where discussions are underway with a school concerning an extension and which have not been completed.
EDUCATION.IE
€1.5bn spend to prioritise new schools
March 12, 2012
The Government will today outline plans for dozens of new schools as part of a €1.5bn construction programme.
But a dwindling capital budget and rising birthrates in larger cities and towns mean the bulk of Education Minister Ruairi Quinn’s school building fund up to 2016 will focus on new schools and extensions, rather than upgrades of sub-standard buildings.
The 2012 school building programme announced before Christmas was for a €430m spend, down from €500m last year and almost €580m in 2010.
Cork TDs have welcomed the plans. Ciarán Lynch, Labour TD for Cork South Central, hailed the plan, said: “This is a statement of massive investment in education for the Cork region. It also plans for the future to ensure that newer communities built in recent years will have schools built locally.”
West Cork’s Fine Gael TD, Jim Daly, said the announcement meant construction could begin in long-overdue projects in Kinsale, Clonakilty and Skibbereen, where three secondary schools will be amalgamated in to one new building on a greenfield site in 2015.
“This confirmation from the minister gives a degree of certainty to the schools involved and allow them to concentrate on the day-to-day task of teaching and learning,” said Mr Daly.
The emphasis is on communities where most of the 100,000 additional pupils will be attending school, with 80,000 of those places to be provided in start-up schools and the rest through extensions.
Mr Quinn announced last June that 40 schools — 20 primary and 20 secondary — will be needed by 2017, 29 of them in Dublin and surrounding counties, six in Cork, three in Galway and one each in counties Cavan and Wexford.
The five-year plan should give a transparent picture of the projects which are being prioritised for funding, although it is unclear at this stage if Mr Quinn’s department will provide projected timescales for work to begin on each project. Such a system operated on the Department of Education website during Noel Dempsey’s term almost a decade ago, although delays in acquiring sites and securing planning permission can make it difficult to accurately assess delivery of school building works.
An estimated €5m a year will be saved in a plan unveiled last week to allow schools build classrooms instead of renting prefabs.
Mr Quinn said seven primary schools to open this year and in 2013 will be under the patronage of Educate Together, four will have the local VEC as their patrons, and An Foras Pátrúnachta will be patron to two. No churches sought patronage of any of the new primary schools.
IRISH EXAMINER
Race to run new schools hots up
March 12, 2012
Contenders reveal plans to reform second-level curriculum.
Ruairi Quinn, the education minister, will have a new player to consider when he decides on the patronage of a group of post-primary schools, writes Kate Butler. Educate Together, who have already proved popular with parents in primary schools, has thrown its hat into the ring as a prospective patron for six of the 14 secondary schools which will open in 2013 and 2014.
The organisation will face stiff competition from county Vocational Education Committees (VECs), religious groups and charitable trusts, such as the Church of Ireland and the Edmund Rice Schools Trust. An Foras Patrunachta will vie for three Irish-language schools.
Educate Together has been around since the mid-1970s, but has only recently started bidding to move into the post-primary sector. In 2010, it competed against Wexford VEC to become patron of Gorey Community College, but struggled to convince people to trust a system which is untested at second-level. The VEC was appointed patron after the Department of Education consulted parents at feeder primary schools on the merits of both parties.
Once viewed as less academically inclined, VEC schools have improved. This is partly due to the amalgamation of many technical colleges with single-sex schools, and the move by the vocational system into the primary school sector. Re-branding has also changed perceptions.
There has been criticism of the chequered performance by schools in the vocational system with calls for an alternative. Last year, Quinn recognised that Educate Together met all of the criteria for post-primary school patrons. The organisation received a shot in the arm last August when it was invited to consider becoming co-patron, with Co Dublin VEC, of a school in Lucan-Clonburris.
A post-primary school in Lusk is the next one to open, with a decision on patronage expected before the summer, and Co Dublin VEC and Educate Together have outlined below what they have to offer. VECs make up 15% of the top 400 schools in our league tables, with nine in the top 100. There are currently 60 Educate Together primary schools which were established by volunteer groups of parents.
THE SUNDAY TIMES
Lord Mayor of Belfast goes back to school to open 2012 Irish-medium Education Conference
March 9, 2012
Téann Ardmhéara Bhéal Feirste ar ais ar scoil le Comhdháil Chomhairle na Gaelscolaíochta 2012 a oscailt
Lord Mayor of Belfast goes back to school to open 2012 Irish-medium Education Conference
O’Dowd leis an eochair-aitheasc a thabhairt
O’Dowd to give Keynote Speech
Is mian le Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, an foras comhairleach ar son na gaelscolaíochta ó thuaidh, an t-aonú Comhdháil dhéag dá cuid a fhógairt, a bheidh á reáchtáil i gColáiste Feirste, Béal Feirste, ar an 16ú Márta 2012.
Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, the Council for Irish-Medium Education, is pleased to announce that its 11th Annual Conference will take place on Wednesday 16th March in Coláiste Feirste Belfast.
Is ceann de na comhdhálacha is mó den chineál seo ar oileán na hÉireann é, Comhdháil Chomhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, a mheallfaidh toscairí ó ghaelscoileanna ó thuaidh agus ó dheas agus óna lán eagraíochtaí idir eagraíochtaí Gaeilge agus oideachasúla.
The Conference, one of the largest of its kind on the island of Ireland, will attract delegates from Irish-medium schools North and South and from numerous Irish language, cultural and educational organisations.
Is é téama na bliana seo Coláisteacht, comhroinnt dea-chleachtais agus comhoibriú earnála. Beidh réimse leathan cainteoirí i láthair ag an chomhdháil chun ceardlanna a thabhairt ar ghnéithe éagsúla a bhaineann le téama na comhdhála. Tá an-áthas orainn fáilte a chur roimh ár gcomhghleacaithe in An tSeirbhís um Fhorbairt Ghairmiúil do Bhunscoileanna, i bPoblacht na hÉireann, a ghlacfaidh páirt in imeachtaí an lae chomh maith.
This year’s theme is collegiality, sharing good practice, sectoral co-operation. A wide range of speakers, drawn mostly from within the Irish-medium sector, will deliver workshops on various issues connected to the conference’s theme. We are particularly delighted to welcome our colleagues from the Professional Support Service for Primary Schools, in the Republic of Ireland, who will also contribute to the day’s events.
Agus é ag seoladh Chlár Comhdhála na bliana seo, dúirt Tarlach Mac Giolla Bhríde, comhordaitheoir na hócáide;
Is cúis áthais do Chomhairle na Gaelscolaíochta agus don earnáil ar fad go mbeidh Ardmhéara Bhéal Feirste, Niall Ó Donnghaile ag pilleadh ar an alma mater s’aige leis an Chomhdháil a oscailt dúinn i mbliana. Is iardhalta gaelscoile Bhunscoil Phobal Feirste agus Choláiste Feirste é an tUasal Ó Donnghaile agus is eiseamláir iontach é ar na buntáistí a bhaineann leis an Ghaelscolaíocht.
Tá muid thar a bheith sásta chomh maith gur an tAire Oideachais, John O’Dowd a bheidh ag tabhairt eochair-aithisc na Comhdhála i mbliana.
While launching the programme for this year’s conference, Tarlach Mac Giolla Bhríde, Conference co-ordinator said;
Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta and the wider Irish-medium sector will be delighted that Belfast’s Lord Mayor, Niall Ó Donnghaile is returning to his Alma Mater to launch this year’s Conference. Niall is a past pupil of Coláiste Feirste and Bunscoil Phobal Feirste before that and he is a prime example of the many advantages of Irish-medium education.
We are also pleased to announce that Education Minister John O’Dowd will deliver this year’s keynote speech.
Tionólfar an Chomhdháil Dé hAoine 16ú Márta i gColáiste Feirste, Páirc Radharc na bhFeá, Bóthar na bhFál, Béal Feirste, idir 9.30 agus 4.00.
The Conference will be held on March 16th in Coláiste Feirste, Beechview Park, Falls Road, Belfast between 9.30 and 4.00.
Contact Details
For more information contact
An Dr Micheál Ó Duibh, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta
Phone: 028 90 321475
Email: moduibh@comhairle.org
Seachtain na Gaeilge i mBunscoil an Iúir
March 8, 2012
Splitting Irish course would help language
March 8, 2012
The recent exchanges in your paper about the possibility of making Irish optional for the Leaving Certificate raise many serious questions about the point and purpose of it being compulsory.
I love the language and continue to read it and use it on those very rare occasions where this is possible.
My love of Irish was generated by the exciting and interesting way it was taught at my first school. We spoke Irish on the playground with great enthusiasm. American tourists would attempt to listen to us. Occasionally they would invite us to the school boundary so that they could hear us speak.
We accepted the invitation but demanded ten shillings for the service. This entrepreneurial opportunity was not to be missed.
As I grew up, what I found difficult to handle was the way the Irish language was caught up in Ireland’s obsession with the past. Speaking Irish was seen as a distinctive way of not being English. It was offered as a means to political and ideological ends, not as an end in itself. Many of my school mates who had difficulty learning the language felt they were pawns in a form of crass nationalism and came to despise Irish.
The Irish language puts us in touch with a form of thinking and speaking that has been embedded in the way we Irish speak English.
I have spent many an hour explaining to my English friends and colleagues that we do not speak a defective form of English but one that has been enriched by the rhythms and music of the Irish language.
The splitting of the Leaving Certificate course into Irish Language and Irish Literature would do much to enliven the teaching and learning of the language.
Philip O’Neill
Edith Road
Oxford
IRISH EXAMINER
AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA IS THE SUCCESSFUL PATRON OF NEW GAELSCOILEANNA
March 8, 2012
Minister Ruairí Quinn of the Department of Education and Skills recently announced the patronage for the new primary schools opening this September, 2012 and September 2013.
“An Foras Pátrúnachta is delighted that three new Gaelscoileanna in Dublin will be opening under its patronage in 2012 and 2013. We had already received notification of the opening of Gaelscoil an Chuilinn in Mulhuddart this year, and now the number of Gaelscoileanna under An Foras Pátrúnachta is growing again with two additional Gaelscoileanna opening in Tallaght and Stepaside in 2013”, said General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta, Caoimhín Ó hEaghra. The Department of Education selected areas around the country which it foresees a substantial growth in population will occur in the coming years and subsequently, will require more schools in these areas to cater for this increase.
An Foras Pátrúnachta submitted applications for patronage of ten new primary schools in different areas in Cork, Dublin, Kildare and Galway last October, 2011. The patron took particular care to the requirements laid out by the Department, including diversity, plurality and parental demand. Although the patron body is thrilled by the growth in Gaelscoileanna, General Secretary Ó hEaghra, is surprised however that recognition for a new Gaelscoil was overlooked in two areas in particular, Carpenterstown in Dublin and Kildare Town. Ó hEaghra said “there was huge support by parents for Gaelscoileanna in these areas. Also, if you look at the issue of diversity and plurality, An Foras Pátrúnachta and Irish-medium primary schools are few and far between, especially in the case of Kildare Town.” The Department of Education has said that the need for a second primary school as a Gaelscoil in Kildare Town will be assessed if there is sufficient evidence of parental demand in the area. An Foras Pátrúnachta is very confident that this requirement can be fulfilled.
In addition to these new Gaelscoileanna, the fourth Gaelscoil will open in Knocknacarra, Galway in 2013 but a decision is yet to be made by the Department regarding patronage for this Gaelscoil. The Department will continue to assess the applications submitted by two potential patrons, An Foras Pátrúnachta and the VEC, and it will seek further clarification on the patrons’ applications before making a decision.
An Foras Pátrúnachta will be organising public meetings in the areas where new Gaelscoileanna are opening with the intention of establishing Founding Committees to co-work with the patron in the process of opening a new Gaelscoil. Parents who wish to pre-enrol their child in the new Gaelscoileanna can visit www.foras.ie to complete a form.
For media information, contact:
Caitríona Bairéad :: caitriona@foras.ie :: 01-6294110
About An Foras Pátrúnachta:
An Foras Pátrúnachta was founded in 1993 so that new gaelscoileanna opening in the coming years would have another choice with regard to patronage. An Foras Pátrunachta is a national patron for both primary and second level schools. An Foras Pátrúnachta is a patron of Irish medium schools that have a choice of Catholic, Interdenominational and Multidenominational ethos.
The vision of An Foras Pátrúnachta is to develop, strengthen and promote education through the medium of Irish throughout the country. An Foras Pátrúnachta is recognized by the Department of Education and Science as a patronage system which is acceptable and appropriate for first and second level schools.
New Irish language edition of best-selling classic Under the Hawthorn Tree
March 8, 2012
Scéal éachtach ar an Drochshaol, agus ar thriúr óga a sháraíonn gach guais lena linn. I ndaichidí an naoú haois déag tá Éire I ngreim ag an ngorta. Nuair a imíonn mí-ádh ar a dteaghlach féin, fágtar Eibhlín, Micheál agus Peig le déanamh as dóibh féin. Le héalú ón ocras agus ó theach na mbocht, cuireann siad sa siúl. Is é a n-aon dóchas dul chomh fada leis na seanaintínú a mbíodh a máthair ag scéalaíocht orthu. Tugann siad aghaidh go misniúil ar an aistear fada anróiteach, agus gnó acu ar feadh an achair dá bhfuil de shracadh agus de ghrá agus de dhílseacht ina gcroí.
Ireland in the 1840s is devastated by famine. When tragedy strikes their family, Eily, Michael and Peggy are left to fend for themselves. Starving and in danger of ending up in the dreaded workhouse, they escape. Their one hope is to find the great-aunts they have heard about in their mother’s stories. With tremendous courage they set out on a journey that will test every reserve of strength, love and loyalty they possess.
Under the Hawthorn Tree, the first novel from best-selling children’s author Marita Conlon-McKenna became an immediate bestseller and an international success when published, it was translated into 12 languages and over 200,000 copies have been sold in Ireland alone. It won the International Reading Association Award (1991), the Reading Association of Ireland Premier Award (1991) and the Österreichischer Kinder- und Jugendbuchpreis (1993). The cover of Under the Hawthorn Tree/Faoin Sceach Gheal was designed by award-winning illustrator P.J. Lynch
Marita Conlon-McKenna is one of Ireland’s most popular children’s authors. She has written many bestselling children’s books. Under the Hawthorn Tree, her first novel, became an immediate bestseller and an international success. Its sequels, Wildflower Girl and Fields of Home, which complete the Children of the Famine trilogy, have also been very successful. Marita’s other children’s novels include The Blue Horse, No Goodbye, Safe Harbour and In Deep Dark Wood.
Competitions, activities and fun for Seachtain na Gaeilge
March 7, 2012
Would your school or youth club like to do something exciting and fun for Seachtain na Gaeilge? Take part in Rith 2012, (www.rith.ie) a giant relay race through 15 counties and 75 towns in Ireland from 8-17 March. You can take part in different ways:
- Enter the competitions to win individual and class prizes.
- Take part. Sponsor a kilometre and carry the Rith Baton. Or use the games and useful phrases on the website to run your own school event.
- Download free posters, lesson plans, and worksheets and use Rith to support learning in PE, Music, Geography and SPHE (Safety).
