DENI statement on the proposed expansion of Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh
September 1, 2014
Ba cheart go mbeadh rogha na gaelscolaíochta ag pobal Chaisleán na Deirge. Leanfaidh Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta ag tacú leo siúd ar mian leo rogha na gaelscolaíochta bheith ann dá bpáistí i gCaisleán na Deirge.
Dr. Micheál Ó Duibh, Príomhfheidhmeannach, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
29 August 2014
O’Dowd turns down expansion of Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, Strabane
Education Minister, John O’Dowd, has turned down a development proposal to expand Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, Strabane.
The Western Education and Library Board, on behalf of the Board of Governors of Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, published a development proposal seeking to expand the school through the establishment of an ‘off-site unit’ in Castlederg. This unit was to be a conversion of the existing, independent Irish-medium provision in Castlederg, Gaelscoil na Deirge.
Speaking about his decision to turn the proposal down, the Minister said: “I take my statutory duties in relation to Irish-medium education very seriously and I recognise that both Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh and Gaelscoil na Deirge deliver good quality education through the medium of Irish to children in the Strabane and Castlederg areas respectively. I am also, however, duty bound to consider carefully all the information pertinent to any proposal to establish new provision on a case-by-case basis.
“While my Department has a statutory duty to encourage and facilitate the development of Irish-medium education, it would not be prudent for me to approve this proposal to expand Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh. The proposal as put forward is not financially viable and approval would potentially see the school fall into a deficit position which in turn may threaten the viability of the host school.
“Furthermore, a new-build project for Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, close to its existing Strabane site, is currently progressing in planning. The new-build project does not factor in the costs or implications associated with establishing an extension of the school in Castlederg and would inevitably need to be reassessed should the new unit be approved.
“I would also highlight the many practical issues that would arise from establishing and running what would effectively be a split-site school with locations some 13 miles apart. There is a risk, for example, that pupils at the Castlederg location would experience a lack of peer socialisation with their counterparts on the Strabane site.
“Taking all of these factors into account, I am not satisfied that the establishment of the proposed ‘off-site unit’ at Castlederg is viable or in the best educational interests of the children.”
The Minister went on to say: “By turning down this proposal, I would emphasise that I am not suggesting that there is no demand for Irish-medium education in the Castlederg area. Further work is required to provide a robust solution to meet this demand that is educationally strong and viable, financially sound and works to the benefit of local children. I am therefore tasking Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, the Western Education and Library Board and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools to explore options for Irish-medium provision in the area. I will give due consideration to any new development proposals that may arise.
“I firmly believe that this approach will best serve the longer term interests children and parents in Strabane and Castlederg who wish to learn through the medium of Irish.”
Notes to editors:
1. The Western Education and Library Board, on behalf of the Board of Governors of Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, published Development Proposal No. 257 on 27 March 2014 which proposed the expansion of the school through the establishment of an ‘off-site unit’ in Castlederg, from 1 September 2014 or as soon as possible thereafter. The two-month statutory consultation period expired on 27 May 2014.
2. The Department of Education’s ‘Education Works’ campaign encourages families to play, talk, read and count with their child and to ‘Get Involved Because Education Works’. Watch out for the ads on television, radio and outdoor locations. The campaign highlights the vital role families can play in helping children do well at school and improve their life chances. Visit http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/education-works for more information.
Watch the TV ad on the Department’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/thedeptofeducation
3. See photos from the Department of Education in our collection at http://www.flickr.com/niexecutive
4. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office Tel: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours, contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 99 715 440, and your call will be returned.
Gaelcholáiste na Mara have a new app
August 29, 2014
Gaelcholáiste na Mara have a new iSchool app, which can be used to keep up to date with school news and notices, as well as for direct communication with the school. The app is free to download and you can find further information on it here.
Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh welcomes its first students!
August 29, 2014
Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh opened its doors for the first time on Tuesday, August 26th. The new Gaelcholáiste is located in Loreto Abbey on the Grange Road in Rathfarnham.
“They say ‘Patience is rewarded’; the Gaelcholáiste community has been very patient but excited about this historic day,” said Joe Mac Suibhne, the school’s principal.
“Credit is due to the school’s founding committee, to the school patron, An Foras Pátrúnachta, to the Department of Education, to the design team and also to the builder Seán Ó Dúill from CTS Construction for the great refurbishment work which has been done to the building.”
It was a lovely Tuesday when the principal and some of the teachers, Múinteoir Fionnuala, Múinteoir Pádraig and Múinteoir Rachel welcomed the school’s first pupils as well as their parents and relations.
The school’s opening was also a source of great pride for the school’s Chairperson, Lorcán Mac Gabhann for the other members of the board who were present on the day.
The principal spoke about the importance of the occasion and the way in which pupils and the whole school community are on the threshold between the time that has past and the radiantly bright period still to come.
“The welcoming hall was named ‘An Tairseach’ on the day as a continuous reminder to the school community of the importance of the threshold, that plenty can be learned from history and of the need to move onto the future. This conserved school will have the most modern facilities,” said Mac Suibhne.
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta, said: “There is a strong link between the Irish language and the Irish medium education in this area, with the Pearse museum just up the road, a place where Pádráig Mac Piarais ran Coláiste Éanna from 1910 to 1916. We are very happy to promote the Irish language and the Irish culture through this school for generations to come.”
Leabhair nua ó Coiscéim
August 28, 2014
First day of school in Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh!
August 28, 2014
Gaelscoileanna Teo. would like to congratulate the students, staff and founding committee of Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh, which opened its doors for the very first time today. We wish everyone involved the best of luck and happiness in the new school.
Visit the school’s website, www.gaelcholaiste.com, for more information. See more photos of the first day in the new school on Facebook.
Ceistneoirí Ar-líne do Mhúinteoirí/Theagascóirí (An Roinn Oideachais & Scileanna)
August 26, 2014
Irish Language and Cultural weekend in the Ráth Chairn Gaeltacht!
August 22, 2014
For those interested in improving their Irish in a pleasant, relaxed environment, Gael Linn are organizing an Irish language and cultural weekend for Adult Learners in the Ráth Chairn Gaeltacht, Co. Meath from Friday 10 – Sunday 12 October 2014. This is the seventh consecutive year for the organization to run this highly successful event, in partnership with the local co-operative, Comharchumann Ráth Chairn. The weekend will coincide with the annual Éigse Dharach Uí Chatháin festival this year, and participants will have the opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage of this living Gaeltacht at first hand. The Ráth Chairn Gaeltacht was founded in 1937 when families from Conamara transferred to the area under a land commission scheme, and is situated between Trim and Athboy in Co. Meath – just an hour from Dublin !
Among the activies planned for the weekend are conversational Irish language classes ( intermediate level ), workshops on sean-nós Irish singing, a tablequiz and plenty of ceol and craic with the local native speakers in the evenings ! Full board accommodation will be arranged for participants in the locality and the all-inclusive fee for the weekend is a very reasonable €180 per person!
Further information and an application form is available in the enclosed attachment, and also on www.gael-linn.ie or from Seán Ó Ceallaigh at 01:6753299 (seanc@gael-linn.ie).
Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh’s new website
August 15, 2014
Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh have a lovely new website, you can visit them on www.gaelscoiluicheadaigh.ie!
Ennis Gaelscoil raises the first Yellow Flag in Co. Clare
August 1, 2014
Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg was awash with excitement on Thursday June 19th when All Ireland medal holder and Clare Hurler Podge Collins visited the school to raise the first ever Yellow Flag to be awarded to a school in County Clare.
The Yellow Flag programme is a practical schools based programme and award scheme which recognises a schools work in promoting interculturalism, equality, diversity and inclusion in both the school and wider community. The programme works through an 8 practical steps model which allows schools to apply those steps to the day to day running of the school in order to promote and support an environment for interculturalism.
The event formed part of the schools third annual Intercultural sports day. All activities on the day had an intercultural theme reflecting the intercultural makeup of the Gaelscoil. Such activities included Futsal from Brazil, African storytelling, International /ethnic face-painting and Salsa. Pupils, staff and parents were entertained by local Moroccan musicians and musicians from Rice College. In keeping with the current soccer world cup, each class represented a country or culture by wearing the country colours on the day.
Overall a day of enjoyment was had by the gathering of the school community in celebrating the many cultures that make up this great school.
Cúrsa i nGramadach na Gaeilge do chainteoirí dúchais
July 23, 2014
