Nuachtlitir Futa Fata-Nollaig 2013
December 16, 2013
Cén treo anois do phobal na Gaeilge?
December 16, 2013
Gaelscoil enrolment policies discussed in Leinster House
December 16, 2013
Oireachtas Joint Committee recognises exceptional enrolment requirements of all-Irish schools
A meeting of the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection regarding the Draft General Scheme of an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, 2013 took place this week.
Representing the Irish-medium education sector were Gaelscoileanna Teo., An Foras Pátrúnachta, Cearta Oideachais and Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, as well as Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre, Atheist Ireland, Presentation College Cork, and Inclusion Ireland which represents Down Syndrome Ireland, Irish Autism Action and The Special Needs Parents Association.
During the discussion, groups were given the chance to make recommendations regarding the proposals within the draft Bill and Irish language groups called for the protection of Gaelscoileanna language ethos under all circumstances and also that children from Irish-speaking households be prioritised. As the draft Bill currently stands, all-Irish schools will be permitted to give preference to children from Irish-speaking households as well as allow Gaelcholáistí to give preference to gaelscoileanna as feeder schools.
All organisations expressed concern regarding the lack of recognition given to early immersion learning within the draft-Bill, as this would prohibit gaelscoileanna from giving preference to children who attended Naíonraí or Irish language pre-schooling, an important aspect in the current enrolment process. It was recommended that Language practices and customs within the Irish-medium education sector must be protected by allowing primary and secondary schools to give priority to children from the Irish-medium education system including Naíonraí and Irish language pre-schools.
The committee was told that 22% of all-Irish primary schools and 29% of all-Irish secondary schools have no option but to refuse students due to excess demand. Where there is over- demand, some schools opt to undertake an interview process in order to assess the language ability and habits of a family during the enrolment process. This occurs only in exceptional circumstances and an interview is nothing more than an informal conversation or a game. As it stands, the draft Bill proposes the removal of any interview process with parents or children before enrolment, except in the case of boarding schools.
The importance of the interview process is paramount, according to the Irish organisations, as until the system can accommodate all children, all-Irish schools must be permitted to consider a child’s language background during the enrolment process. as it is the only way to ensure priority is given to Irish-speaking households. It was recommended that the exceptional case of all-Irish schools be taken into consideration, as in the case of boarding schools, and the decision be left at the discretion of schools’ boards of management.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Futa Fata Newsletter
December 13, 2013
Scrúdú TEG Ardleibhéal 1 (C1)
December 12, 2013
Dátaí Scléip 2014!
December 12, 2013
This Government has failed the Irish language
December 12, 2013
Fallout from resignation of Language Commissioner
The debate continues following Seán Ó Cuirreáin’s announcement to the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions that he is to resign from his position on 23 February 2013.
An Coimisinéir Teanga has cited the Government’s failure to implement language legislation at the level of the State as the reason for his decision, including the low standard of the language scheme system, the lack of competence in Irish throughout the stateservice, the government’s new recruitment policy for the stateservice and its decision to amalgamate the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga with the Office of the Ombudsman.
Adding to the concern expressed by the Irish language community at Seán Ó Cuirreáin’s decision, opposition parties have condemned the Government’s approach to the Irish language and Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have called for the resignation of both the senior Minister and the Minister of State ar the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
During question time with Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley on Thursday, Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fáil T.D., explained that while he understood the junior Minister’s position, it is clear that he is not receiving Government support regarding Irish language matters.
He called for the resignation of senior Minister Jimmy Deenihan as he believes An Coimisinéir Teanga’s announcement demonstrates a vote of no confidence in this Government, an Taoiseach and particularly in the Minster.
Minister of State Dinny McGinley asked that Irish not be made a question of politics as past experience has led to a party split and was ultimately damaging to the language.
Speaking on Adhmhaidin on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta on Thursday, Deputy Ó Cuív stated that Irish is a political question and while Jimmy Deenihan’s lack of Irish is a problem, it would be acceptable if the Minister made every effort to support the language. But as far as Deputy Ó Cuív is concerned, it is clear that the Minister has no interest in Irish language or Gaeltacht matters.
Sinn Féin believes that it should be Minister of State Dinny McGinley who should resign. According to Sinn Féin’s Irish Language and Gaeltacht spokesperson, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, “It is crystal clear from statements made by Ó Cuirreáin over the last couple of years that the state organisations have not being co-operating with him, that the Department of the Gaeltacht has not been fulfilling its obligations in ratifying language schemes and that the implementation of the Twenty Year Strategy leaves a lot to be desired”.
“This is a damning indictment of this government. It is quite clear to me that this government and in particular the Minister for the Gaeltacht are failing completely in fulfilling their responsibilities properly and that he should be the one to resign and leave the job to someone who is willing to do it properly”, he said.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Resignation of An Coimisinéir Teanga (The Language Commissioner)
December 11, 2013
The Association of Irish Development Officers in the public service has described the resignation of An Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin as a disastrous blow to the development of front‐line Irish language services. “The lack of staff capable of providing services in both official languages of the State continues to hinder the ability of state organisations to provide services to the public through the Irish language. We call on the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny and on the Government, to act immediately to restore faith in State support for the Irish language, our national language and the first official language of this country.”
“We are very disappointed, as is the Commissioner, with the delay in the review of the Official Languages Act, 2013, particularly given the fact that many public and state organisations have campaigned for a new recruitment system which would ensure the recruitment of Irish speakers into the public service to serve the needs of the Irish speaking population, both within and outside the Gaeltacht,” says Aoileann Nic Dhonncha, PRO for the Association of Irish Development Officers.
As well as serving the needs of the Gaeltacht population, large numbers of Gaelscoileanna have opened throughout the country in recent years, and State services through Irish are needed to serve the graduates of these schools. More emphasis needs to be put on the Irish language in the recruitment process for public bodies, so that we in the public sector can properly fulfil our front line language obligations, without any extra cost,” says Aoileann Nic Dhonncha.
“The Association would like to thank the Language Commissioner, Seán Ó Cuirreáin for his help and support of our daily efforts to ensure the proper implementation of the Official Languages Act at the front line in the public sector. Seán’s resignation as Commissioner is a big loss to Irish speakers throughout the country, as he was an extremely professional pioneer, as the first Irish Language Commissioner, who excelled in his service to the Customer and the State.
The level of services through Irish which are provided by public bodies in the Gaeltacht, and elsewhere, is entirely dependent on there being sufficient staff who are proficient in Irish to provide those services.
The current recruitment system does not ensure enough staff that are proficient in Irish, nor will the new system as recently proposed by the Government, and as a result, the provision of services through Irish is unsatisfactory.
This fosters a lack of confidence in the State’s ability to provide high‐quality services through the Irish language, which undermines the demands of the Irish speaking and Gaeltacht communities for Irish language services from the State, despite their Constitutional right to receive such services in our native tongue.
Cumann na nOifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge
www.cumannofg.wordpress.com cumannofg@hotmail.com
Oifigeach Caidrimh Poiblí: Aoileann Nic Dhonncha, Co Átha Cliath Theas (086) 8228916.
Cathaoirleach: Roibeard Ó hEartáin, Co. Chiarraí (087) 7989727.
Rúnaí: Máire Seó Breathnach, Co. Phort Láirge.
Suíomh Idirlíon: Seán Ó Daimhín, Co. Dhún na nGall.
Meáin Shóisialta: Oonagh Ní Chéilleachair, Co. Mhaigh Eo.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny i mbun cainte le Raidió na Life ar ‘20 Bliain’ Dé Céadaoin 11ú Nollaig, 12:00 – 13:00
December 10, 2013
Merry Christmas from Coláiste na hÉireann/Gaelchultúr
December 10, 2013
Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year from Gaelchultúr.
As 2013 draws to a close, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who participated in our courses over the last 12 months.
2013 has been an important year for Gaelchultúr. We were awarded status as a third level institution during the summer and began a course at level 9 on the NFQ, Dioplóma Iarchéime san Aistriúchán (Postgraduate Diploma in Translation), in September. We offered the Certificate in Professional Irish at three different levels – Levels 3, 4 and 5 – and awarded that qualification to employees from a wide range of public sector bodies. We published the third edition of our Irish grammar book, Gramadach gan Stró!, as well as three new Irish language resources for primary school teachers: Gníomhaíochtaí Gasta, Póstaer Pearsan and Réalta an Ranga. Over a thousand primary teachers participated in our online summer courses – the most registrations we’ve had to date. We also redesigned our online shop, siopa.ie, and added substantially to the number and range of products we sell.
Competition
We have two pairs of tickets to give away for Kíla’s Christmas gig, as well as five copies of Rónán Ó Snodaigh’s brand new album, Sos. The gig will begin at 8.00pm on Wednesday, 18 December 2013, in Whelan’s, 25 Wexford Street, Dublin 2.
If you want to be in with a chance to win, send an email with the title “Comórtas” to eolas@gaelchultur.com by 5.00pm on Friday, 13 December 2013. You must answer the following question in your email:
Rónán Ó Snodaigh is a member of the band Kíla, but what is the name of his latest solo album?
All correct answers will be entered into a draw. The first two people selected will win the tickets and the next five names drawn will win a copy of the album.
