Trinity College launches new language scheme
December 3, 2013
Minister of State for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley TD officially launched Trinity College Dublin’s second Irish language scheme on 27 November 2013.
The new language scheme describes the services to be developed and improved to better cater for members of the public and members of staff wishing to do business with TCD through Irish and will build upon the provision established in the First Language Scheme which was in place from 2010-2012.
The language scheme arises from the Official Languages Act 2003 that gives practical effect to the constitutional status of Irish as the first official language of the State. The scheme will be in place for three years or until the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht ratifies a third scheme under Section 15 of the Act.
Launching the new scheme, Minister of State McGinley said “Trinity College has long been renowned for the excellence of its Irish language learning and scholarship and the achievements of the college in protecting, nurturing and sustaining the language must be acknowledged”.
While implementing the second scheme, TCD authorities will focus on improvements to bilingual services in the following areas: Direct Customer Services; Interactive services; Websites; Communications and Media; Forms, publications and printed material; Information Technology; Staff recruitment, induction and Irish language training; Irish Language Residency Schemes and Seomra na Gaeilge. There are also commitments to the development of an Irish Language Policy and the instituting of Irish Language Awards.
TCD Secretary said that “Trinity College is proud to be among the first of the universities to launch a second scheme”, and Irish Language Officer Aonghus Dwane, added that the scheme “is the result of cooperation with a wide range of areas across the College community. This Scheme will ensure the embedding and strengthening of the central place of Irish in College life in the years ahead”.
Trinity College Dublin’s second language scheme can be read here.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Closing date for NCCA consultation approaching
November 29, 2013
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) will accept submissions regarding the background paper for the review of Irish on the Junior Certificate until 20 December 2013.
Major reform for the Junior Certificate was announced by the Department of Education last October and it is planned that the new structure will be implemented on a phased basis from 2014 and the reformed examination will be taken for the first time in 2017.
Under the new system, students will take between 8 and 10 subjects from a wide range of traditional exam subjects and ‘short courses’ including subjects such as Chinese, Physical Education and Digital Media Literacy. Individual schools will devise a program of subjects from which students will choose.
Schools will be expected to put together a program that will develop the ability and thinking of students with subjects that meet the needs of that particular school body. It is hoped that the new Junior Certificate will see students rather than examinations at the centre of the new approach to assessment.
Irish, English and Mathematics will remain core subjects and 2016 will see Science introduced to this group.
Irish is one of the Phase 2 subjects, along with Business Studies and Science, to be introduced to first year students in the autumn of 2015 as part of the junior cycle developments.
English, the only Phase 1 subject, will have been introduced the previous year. The new specification for Irish will be published in autumn, 2014, a year in advance of its introduction.
Participants are asked to send submissions to consultation@ncca.ie or to take part in the process by filling in either a short survey or a full survey on the NCCA website by 20 December 2013.
All documents relating to the consultation process are available here.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Minister Quinn announces 70 major school building projects as part of €2bn five year plan
November 29, 2013
Projects to provide over 27,500 permanent school places and 3,800 jobs
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, T.D., is announcing the 70 school projects which are scheduled for construction in 2014.
A €2 billion five-year capital investment programme, launched by Minister Quinn in March 2012, gave details of 275 new major school building projects to begin over the period 2012-2016.
The new school buildings and major extensions which are being announced today are part of the five year plan.
Some €470 million will be spent on primary and post-primary infrastructure next year, with a projected expenditure on large scale projects of over €320 million.
The 70 major projects scheduled to proceed to construction in 2014 are:
22 new schools at primary level
12 extensions at primary level
12 new schools at second-level
20 extensions at second-level
3 new special schools and 1 major special school extension
These school projects will deliver over 27,500 permanent school places and of these over 21,000 are additional places. The remainder will be the replacement of temporary or unsatisfactory accommodation.
Together with the school projects already announced in July last under the “Jobs and Investment” package and other ongoing projects from 2013, this means that a total of 168 major school projects will be on site next year.
In addition, the Minister confirmed that a total of 44 major school projects have now reached substantial completion in 2013.
Announcing details of the 2014 building programme Minister Quinn said, “I am delighted to confirm today the major school projects which will be built next year.”
“Not only will quality permanent school places be built for 27,500 pupils across the country, but this significant investment will support 3,200 direct jobs and 640 indirect jobs in 2014.”
Minister Quinn continued, “Despite our economic difficulties, we have a pressing need to provide new schools and major extensions to continue to meet the accommodation requirements of our growing school going population.
“We are facing massive increases in the number of school going children in the coming years. Total enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by over 70,000 between now and 2017 – over 45,000 at primary level and 25,000 at post primary – and will continue to grow up to at least 2024 at second level.”
“My primary aim is to ensure that every child growing up in Ireland can access a place in a classroom when they go to school,” Minister Quinn concluded.
Today’s announcement is part of the Government’s plan to provide more than 100,000 permanent school places over the course of the five year plan.
As 2014 progresses, projects scheduled to begin building in 2015/16 will be assessed to see if they are ready to go to construction earlier than planned, and if there is financial scope to do so.
Details of the progress of all major projects listed in the Five Year Plan will continue to be maintained and updated on the Department’s website, www.education.ie
Gaeltachtaí Mhaigh Eo: Bás nó Fás?
November 28, 2013
Request for submissions
November 28, 2013
Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB)is seeking public opinion in relation to the services provided to customers through Irish.
GRETB now wishes to invite representations from any interested parties in relation to the preparation of the first draft language scheme in accordance with the Official Languages Act 2003 (Section 11). The primary objective of the Act is to ensure better availability and a higher standard of public services through Irish.
Submissions can be made electronically by email: fiosruithe@gretb.ie or by post:
‘Scéim Teanga’
Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board
An Coiléar Bán
Athenry
Co. Galway.
The latest date for receipt of submissions is 5.00 p.m. on Friday, 20 December 2013.
Information in relation to the and services provided to the public by Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board is available on www.countygalwayvec.ie, www.cgvec.ie and www.roscommonvec.ie.
Submissions
The consultation process is of utmost importance to ensuring that public companies meet the public’s expectations in relation services provided to the public bilingually. Should you wish to recommend way in which to improve services through Irish from public companies, you can send your views to eolas@gaelport.com or send a submission to the public company in question during the consultation process. The most common recommendations made to public companies are the following:
• Current bilingual ability of the public body
• Active availability/offer and maintaining demand of services through Irish
• Recruitment policy
• Access to documentation/Application Form
• Irish language signs
• Public Meetings
• Language requirements of An Ghaeltacht
• Company Website
• Evaluating/Assessing the language scheme’s aims
• Monitoring and documenting developments made
• Publicising/Advertising the Language Scheme and its contents
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Minister Quinn announces patronage of 9 new Post-Primary schools to be established in 2015 and 2016
November 28, 2013
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., today announced the patrons for nine new post-primary schools which will open in 2015 and 2016.
These new schools will provide additional places for up to 7,300 students in areas of Cork, Cavan, Dublin and North Wicklow which have seen their populations expand in recent years.
The new schools include five which will cater for up to 1,000 students each.
Four of the new schools will be under the patronage of Educate Together, two will be run by the local Education and Training Board (ETB), one by the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST), one jointly by the local ETB and Educate Together and the final school will be managed by the local ETB with involvement of the Catholic Bishop of Cloyne (see table below).
Minister Quinn said, “The fact that the new patrons include those of multi-denominational and those of a Catholic ethos clearly demonstrates that the Department and I are committed to providing diversity of ethos in our schools and respecting the demands of parents.”
“I am very pleased to see that Educate Together will be sole patron in four schools and joint patron in a fifth school, particularly as ET was formally recognised as a second level patron body by me just two years ago.”
“I am confident that these new schools, alongside the existing schools in each area, will mean that parents and students have real choice when it comes to deciding which school most reflects their own ethos.”
Today’s announcement is the culmination of the process which began in June 2011 when the Minister announced that 20 new post-primary schools were to be established up to 2017 to cater for increasing student numbers.
Minister Quinn said, “We are experiencing significant increases in our school-going population. The establishment of these new schools is an essential part of our actions to ensure that the school infrastructure is in place in time to ensure every single student has a quality place at second level over the coming years.”
At that time the Minister also announced new criteria and arrangements for the recognition of the new schools. The arrangements included the establishment of an independent advisory group, the New Schools Establishment Group, to advise the Minister on the patronage of the new schools following its consideration of a report prepared by Department officials.
The New Schools Establishment Group reported to the Minister earlier this month. Minister Quinn has accepted the group’s recommendations in full.
Prospective patrons were asked to provide evidence of parental demand when making applications for patronage of the new schools. In addition, the criteria used in deciding on patronage included how the proposed schools under the respective patrons would provide for extending or strengthening diversity of school ethos in each area, having regard to the views of parents.
The Minister expressed his thanks to the members of the New Schools Establishment Group for their valuable input to the process. Minister Quinn said, “I initiated the revised system for the establishment of new schools and the appointment of the school patron so that it would be an objective and transparent process. The role of the New Schools Establishment Group is critical to achieving these aims and I want to thank them for their work in this area.”
Department officials will shortly contact each of the patron bodies in regard to the logistics of the establishment of these new schools.
| County | Area | Recommended Patron Body | No. of students |
| Cavan | Kingscourt | Cavan and Monaghan ETB | 400 |
| Cork | Cork South Suburbs/Carrigaline | 2 Schools: Educate Together & Edmund Rice Schools Trust |
600 each |
| Cork | Midleton/Carrigtohill | Cork ETB (involving the Catholic Bishop of Cloyne) | 1,000 |
| Dublin | Balbriggan | Educate Together | 700 |
| Dublin | Ballinteer/Stepaside | Educate Together | 1,000 |
| Dublin | Kingswood, Tallaght | Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB | 1,000 |
| Kildare | Celbridge | Jointly Educate Together and Kildare and Wicklow ETB (subject to confirmation of sufficient parental support) | Up to 1,000 |
| Wicklow | North Wicklow | Educate Together | 1,000 |
www.education.ie
Information evening for parents will take place in Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha on Thursday November 28th at 7pm
November 27, 2013
Everyone’s welcome! The school is located in Tower View, Kildare Town, Co. Kildare.
Contact:
045 535588
gaelscoilmhicaodha@gmail.com
‘Fáilte isteach i mo shaol’
November 27, 2013
New funding model discussed at NSMC meeting
November 26, 2013
A meeting of the North South ministerial Council (NSCM) took place in Armagh on 20 November 2013.
Earlier this week Gaelport.com reported that the shortlist for the new funding model had been chosen by Foras na Gaeilge.
Shortlisted organisations will have until 6 December to submit a comprehensive report as part of the second stage of the application process. Submissions will be evaluated and an interview process with the chairs and heads of the organisations will take place between 6 and 10 January 2014.
The progress made by Foras na Gaeilge in the development of the new funding model between July-November 2013 was noted at the meeting. A progress report provided by Foras na Gaeilge described “Ongoing measures for implementation of the new core funding arrangements, including seeking expressions of interest from qualifying organisations wishing to be considered for selection as a lead organisation”.
Foras na Gaeilge recently announced that the appointment of a Consultant in Change Management would be delayed until January 2014.
In a letter sent to NSMC ministers prior to this week’s meeting, members of An Fóram, (a group which comprises 80% of those organisations currently core-funded by Foras na Gaeilge), requested that the current process be extended due to this delay.
A decision regarding the 6 lead-organisations will be made at a meeting of the Board of Foras na Gaeilge on 17 January 2014.
Glacfar cinneadh i leith na 6 cheanneagraíocht ag cruinniú de Bhord Fhoras na Gaeilge ar 17 Eanáir 2014.
©Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com 21 Samhain 2013
Opposition criticises Government Committee on the Irish Language
November 26, 2013
Two meetings held by Government committee on Irish language and Gaeltacht affairs in the past year
The Government committee which is chaired by an Taoiseach was heavily criticised in the Dail this week during a discussion regarding the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language.
While answering questions from Micheál Martin TD (Fianna Fail), Gerry Adams TD (Sinn Féin) and Joe Higgins TD (Socialist Party), an Taoiseach Enda Kenny informed the House that the committee, which was established to monitor the implementation of the Strategy, held only two meetings throughout the past year.
The strategy was launched in 2010 with the aim of increasing the number of daily Irish language speakers from its current figure of 83,000 people to 250,000 people in the next 20 years. Nine distinct areas for proposed initiatives are set out in the Strategy, as well as goals for each area including Education, An Ghaeltacht, Early Immersion, Public and Community Services, Technology and the Media, Legislation and language status.
The Irish language community expressed their disappointment with its implementation in July of this year when the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht published a Strategy progress report. Since that report, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has announced funding to Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. will come to an end in December of this year and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform announced the removal of the points system from the civil service which awarded extra points to those who completed recruitment examinations through Irish.
An Taoiseach informed the Dáil that €500,000 had been allocated for the implementation of the Strategy in October’s budget and that Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley is visiting various Gaeltacht regions on a weekly basis to ensure the implementation of Government policy.
The Government’s latest proposals and cuts where criticised by the Opposition as well as the changes to the appointment of the members of Údarás na Gaeltachta under Acht na Gaeltachta 2012 and the recent report published by the Chief Inspector which highlights major flaws in the learning and teaching of Irish in the education system.
©Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com 22 Samhain 2013
