AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA IS THE SUCCESSFUL PATRON OF NEW GAELSCOILEANNA
March 8, 2012
Minister Ruairí Quinn of the Department of Education and Skills recently announced the patronage for the new primary schools opening this September, 2012 and September 2013.
“An Foras Pátrúnachta is delighted that three new Gaelscoileanna in Dublin will be opening under its patronage in 2012 and 2013. We had already received notification of the opening of Gaelscoil an Chuilinn in Mulhuddart this year, and now the number of Gaelscoileanna under An Foras Pátrúnachta is growing again with two additional Gaelscoileanna opening in Tallaght and Stepaside in 2013”, said General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta, Caoimhín Ó hEaghra. The Department of Education selected areas around the country which it foresees a substantial growth in population will occur in the coming years and subsequently, will require more schools in these areas to cater for this increase.
An Foras Pátrúnachta submitted applications for patronage of ten new primary schools in different areas in Cork, Dublin, Kildare and Galway last October, 2011. The patron took particular care to the requirements laid out by the Department, including diversity, plurality and parental demand. Although the patron body is thrilled by the growth in Gaelscoileanna, General Secretary Ó hEaghra, is surprised however that recognition for a new Gaelscoil was overlooked in two areas in particular, Carpenterstown in Dublin and Kildare Town. Ó hEaghra said “there was huge support by parents for Gaelscoileanna in these areas. Also, if you look at the issue of diversity and plurality, An Foras Pátrúnachta and Irish-medium primary schools are few and far between, especially in the case of Kildare Town.” The Department of Education has said that the need for a second primary school as a Gaelscoil in Kildare Town will be assessed if there is sufficient evidence of parental demand in the area. An Foras Pátrúnachta is very confident that this requirement can be fulfilled.
In addition to these new Gaelscoileanna, the fourth Gaelscoil will open in Knocknacarra, Galway in 2013 but a decision is yet to be made by the Department regarding patronage for this Gaelscoil. The Department will continue to assess the applications submitted by two potential patrons, An Foras Pátrúnachta and the VEC, and it will seek further clarification on the patrons’ applications before making a decision.
An Foras Pátrúnachta will be organising public meetings in the areas where new Gaelscoileanna are opening with the intention of establishing Founding Committees to co-work with the patron in the process of opening a new Gaelscoil. Parents who wish to pre-enrol their child in the new Gaelscoileanna can visit www.foras.ie to complete a form.
For media information, contact:
Caitríona Bairéad :: caitriona@foras.ie :: 01-6294110
About An Foras Pátrúnachta:
An Foras Pátrúnachta was founded in 1993 so that new gaelscoileanna opening in the coming years would have another choice with regard to patronage. An Foras Pátrunachta is a national patron for both primary and second level schools. An Foras Pátrúnachta is a patron of Irish medium schools that have a choice of Catholic, Interdenominational and Multidenominational ethos.
The vision of An Foras Pátrúnachta is to develop, strengthen and promote education through the medium of Irish throughout the country. An Foras Pátrúnachta is recognized by the Department of Education and Science as a patronage system which is acceptable and appropriate for first and second level schools.
