Minister launches more patronage surveys
January 15, 2013
Residents of Kildare town awoke yesterday to hear the unexpected news that a new gaelscoil is to open in September 2013.
Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn TD said that the decision had been founded on a clear demand amongst locals for Irish language medium education.
Secretary General of Irish language patronage body An Foras Pátrúnachta, Caoimhín Ó hEaghra said that he was delighted with the decision to accept the evidence for a new gaelscoil.
The Minister made the announcement at the launch of a new series of surveys on school patronage in primary schools across the country. Parents in 38 areas will eligible to take part in the process.
However it is uncertain whether the Minister believes that any further announcements of school openings is to follow the surveys, due to the stable nature of the population in some of the more rural areas. Minister Quinn did hint that more negotiations might take place to divest current schools from the patronage of the Catholic Church, depending on the outcome of the surveys.
In spite of this, Irish language organisations have asked interested parents to show their support for Irish medium education.
“This is a great opportunity for parents who wish to promote Irish language education in their area, a move which could be established under the auspices of the Irish language patronage body, An Foras Pátrúnachta” said Secretary General, Caoimhín Ó hEagra.
This is the next step in the process since results of pilot studies in Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall were announced last December. The biggest outcome, according to the Minister was a clear demand for diversity of patronage in these areas.
However some groups have pointed out that the results of the surveys which were completed by 1,788 parents, were unrepresentative of the school population in those areas.
Speaking yesterday, Minister Quinn said that lessons had been learned from the initial pilot survey scheme. He confirmed that the process would take place over a longer period of time and that the Department would work to publicise the initiative in the various regions.
He has asked parents to take part in the process online on www.education.ie and fill in the surveys before Friday February 8th 2013.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
