Department of Education announces four new gaelscoileanna opening in 2012 and 2013
March 7, 2012
“Of the 16 new primary schools to open around the country in 2012 and 2013, we welcome the announcement by the Minister of Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn, TD that four of them are to be gaelscoileanna”, said the president of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. Máirín Ní Chéileachair. “This is a positive decision that ensures that Irish-medium education will be available as a choice for pupils whose parents have been campaigning diligently on their behalf. This progress confirms the significant demand from the public for Irish-medium education and the continuing growth, development and demand for gaelscoileanna.”
The new gaelscoileanna are to be established in the following areas:
- Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. Gaelscoil an Chuilinn will open in September 2012 *See note below on how to register your child for this new school.
- Firhouse/Oldbawn, September 2013
- Stepaside, Dublin 18, September 2013
The three schools listed above will be under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta.
A new gaelscoil will also open in Knocknacarra, Galway in September 2013, though the patronage of the school is yet to be decided. The new system put in place by the Department of Education states that the Department alone will identify the areas in which new schools are to be established, making the process far less democratic than before. In this new recognition process, applications for gaelscoileanna in other areas of rapid population growth were rejected, particularly affecting Kildare, where the closest gaelscoil is unable to cater for the overwhelming demand for Irish-medium education. The Department has given limited recognition to this demand, and there is hope that a gaelscoil might be established there in 2014.
CEO of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO., Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin said that “while we recognise that today’s announcement is a positive reflection of the hard work done by the local founding committees and the cooperation of all the partners in the process, there are problems with the system in that it does not allow for the demand that exists in areas outside of those identified by the Department, particularly those areas where the population is not on the increase. This leaves communities without access to their preferred type of education for their children. This makes it difficult for us to inspire and encourage communities to engage with the process, when there is no certain outcome for them. We firmly believe that community choice should be central to the process, and as an organisation we will continue to support all gaelscoileanna and those who wish to establish new schools.”
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the national coordinating body for Irish-medium schools at primary and post-primary level. It provides assistance and support to parents and local communities who wish to found a school and it supports existing Irish-medium schools in their development.
*Parents can register their children for September 2012 in Gaelscoil an Chuilinn in Mulhuddart by calling 086 3236187 or emailing gaelscoilanchuilinn@gmail.com.
Further information:
Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin, CEO, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.
Phone: 01 8535195 Email: blathnaid@gaelscoileanna.ie
Máirín Ní Chéileachair, President, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.
Phone: 01 6290667 Email: mairinnicheileachair@gmail.com
