Information Meeting – Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara Thuaidh
February 7, 2012
An Foras Pátrúnachta is holding an Information Meeting this Wednesday, 8th February 2012, to update parents, guardians and the general public regarding An Foras Pátrúnachta’s application for Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara Thuaidh. We would like to inform the community locally and nationally that The Department of Education and Skills is rejecting the area for a potential Gaelcholáiste, where some 1,600 pupils currently receive Irish-medium education, by refusing to recognise our application. We firmly believe this is conveying blatant inequality to parents’ and childrens’ rights. We are proposing to stand against the decision of The Department of Education and Skills on behalf of North Kildare community.
We have collected more than 350 names on pre-enrolment forms for the proposed Gaelcholáiste in Maynooth. This shows the high demand in the area for Irish-medium education at second level. However, The Department of Education of Skills are still rejecting this demand. This is a significant number of names but, to put more pressure on the Department, we need your help to collect as many names as possible. Here are some ways that you can help:
- Ask a friend to complete a pre-enrolment form online at www.foras.ie
- Write to the local media expressing your views on the current treatment from the Department of this campaign for a Gaelcholáiste
- Write to or call your local politicians to tell them of the current situation
We are asking anyone who wishes to see a new Gaelcholáiste in this area to attend this important meeting. We will have speakers from An Foras Pátrúnachta and An Coiste Bunaithe (founding committee) to inform everyone of our current situation and we will further discuss how you can help with this campaign on behalf of Irish-medium education for the area. The deadline for applications from school patrons for the new secondary school in Maynooth is Friday, February 24th 2012. The Information Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 8th February at 20:00 in the Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare. We look forward to welcoming you.
