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Poll indicates three-quarters of parents want change in primary school patronage

April 30, 2012

A NEW POLL commissioned by the Irish Primary Principals Network has shown that three out of four parents would send their children to schools run by patrons other than Churches if they had a choice.

The poll was conducted by RedC before Easter among 729 respondents aged between 18 and 54. Forty-five per cent of respondents were parents with children under 16, while the rest had no dependent children.

While 27 per cent of parents with dependent children would choose to send their children to a school owned and managed by a school, and providing its own religious instruction, 30 per cent of those with dependents would rather a VEC-managed school which provides for religious instruction throughout the day.

Twenty-four per cent of parents would choose a multi-denominational school, which caters for religious instruction outside of the school day, and 20 per cent of those with dependents would send their children to a state-run school without any form of patronage with religious instruction provided for outside of the school day.

The poll is the first of its kind since the publication of the report of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism.

Earlier this month education minister Ruairí Quinn welcomed the report, which showed that while 96 per cent of education provision at primary level is denominational arising from the historical development of Irish primary education, there is clearly increased demand for new forms of multi-denominational and non-denominational schooling, as well as increased demand for Irish language schooling.

Meanwhile Minister Quinn has said that the multi-denominational Educate Together will be confirmed as patrons to a second-level school next month. The minister has praised the organisation for its contribution to Irish education as an agent for change and innovation.

The Minister is due to receive recommendations from the expert group on patronage for second level schools scheduled to be opened in the next three years. Educate Together has applied to open second level schools in Drogheda, Greystones, Tyrellstown/Mulhuddart, Blanchardstown and Lusk.

THEJOURNAL.IE

Parents in Kildare furious as children of gaelscoileanna ignored

February 16, 2012

THE PARENTS OF more than 1,600 primary school children are planning actions against the Department of Education and Skills following a decision to block the establishment of a post-primary gaelscoil in Maynooth.

Earlier this month, the DES refused to accept an application from An Foras Patrúntachta to take on the patronage of a new school due to be built in the North Kildare town in 2014.

An Coiste Bunaithe (the founding committee for gaelcoláiste) has applied twice in the past five years to establish an Irish-medium secondary school in the area but has failed in both attempts.

There are currently four primary schools who teach through Irish in North Kildare which would be feeder schools for any such coláiste. Those children currently have few options to continue their post-primary education through the medium of Irish.

On announcing plans to build a new school in Maynooth last June, Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn said the criteria used in deciding on patronage would place a particular emphasis on “parental demand for plurality and diversity”.

“Parental preferences should be at the centre of considerations about the type of school to be recognised,” Quinn also said.

Last week, the Department of Education posted what they saw as the valid expressions of interest from patronage bodies. An Foras Patrúnachta’s application was excluded.

Those from County Kildare VEC – which already runs a school in the North Kildare town – and the Loreto Education Trust were accepted.

The Department told TheJournal.ie that a decision had previously been made that the new school in Maynooth would operate through English.

However, it advised that prospective patrons must be willing to establish an Aonad (an Irish speaking unit) if there is demand for one.

Colm Ó Cearúil from An Coiste Bunaithe said this was not enough for the number of children currently being educated through Irish. It would also fail to cater for the growth in the area, he said.

Ó Cearúil said the parents of the children attending the local primary schools are furious and frustrated by the decision. “We are taking a three-pronged action against the decision,” he said, adding that it could lead to a legal challenge.

The parents of the children attending Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich in Maynooth, Scoil Uí Dhálaigh in Leixlip, Scoil Uí Riada in Kilcock and Gaelscoil na nÓg in Dunboyne are furious that their wish to have their children continue their education through the medium of Irish should be dismissed in such an unjust manner.”

He said that they had been willing to compromise and look at taking on a joint patronage of the school – a solution used in other areas of the country.

Previous applications for gaelscoileanna in Maynooth and other parts of North Kildare were refused as Coláiste Cois Life in nearby Lucan was not at capacity.

“North Kildare was told it could not have an Irish secondary school once there were empty seats in the Lucan school. That is no longer the case as the school is now full,” explained Ó Cearúil.

We demand that Ruairí Quinn explains why the DES is opposed to a Gaelcholáiste in Maynooth and to explain why Co. Kildare VEC is posted when the Minister’s own criteria calls for diversity of choice given that the VEC already has a school in the town.”

The group met with a community council this week, as well as local TD Bernard Durkan to discuss the issue.

The large Irish-speaking community in Maynooth has sprang up since a group of parents decided to establish an Irish-speaking primary school by renting local premises from their own funds. North Kildare lost out to Lucan in the previous application for a secondary school.

The new school is due to be built in 2014. A final decision will be made after the closing deadline for applications for patronage on 24 February.

Of the schools due to be built in 2013 and 2014, three will be Irish speaking – one in North Dublin, one in South Dublin and another in Cork. VECs have applied for the patronage of 14 new post-primary schools across the country.

The Journal.ie

Clondalkin could be Dublin’s first official Gaeltacht

February 10, 2012

A SPRAWLING SUBURB of Dublin could become Ireland’s newest Gaeltacht area thanks to a bill which will create a new definition of what it is to be an official Irish-speaking region.

Labour TD Robert Dowds said that the approval of the draft bill gives Clondalkin a great opportunity to be designated as a Gaeltacht area “at a certain level”.

“One of the main aims of this bill is to create a new definition of what constitutes a Gaeltacht,” explains Dowds. “This will give areas outside of traditional gaeltachts a chance to be recognised should they fulfill certain criteria.”

Under the proposed legislation, the Gaeltacht will be based on linguistic criteria instead of on geographic areas. During last year’s presidential election, Michael D Higgins said that Clondalkin had a case to be recognised due to the number of Irish speakers living there.

Joe MacSuibhne has been principal of the local Irish-speaking secondary school Coláiste Chillian for the past eight years and strongly supports the idea of designating Clondalkin as a Gaeltacht area.

“We have been looking for something like this for years. Currently, there are about 1,500 students receiving their education through Irish in the area and are, therefore, fluent in the language,” he told TheJournal.ie this morning.

Language planning at community level will also be central to the new definition of the Gaeltacht. As well as MacSuibhne’s school, Clondalkin boasts two all-Irish primary schools, Áras Chrónáin Irish Cultural Centre and a host of naíonraí (pre-schools).

“The benefits of being designated as a Gaeltacht area would greatly help here,” continued MacSuibhne. “I think it would help us in the promotion of the language in the school, as well as the town.”

Coláiste Chillian currently serves students from Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Inchicore and Ballyfermot.

“There are endless possibilities for the area if it is given the recognition for the number of Irish speakers here,” added MacSuibhne who has been teaching in Clondalkin for more than 20 years.

Even simple ideas around language development could create employment for students when they graduate, according to MacSuibhne.

Being designated as a Gaeltacht would encourage more local businesses to use Irish and to take on people who are fluent. An Irish-speaking till at local shops would be just one example.”

The decision to prioritise the drafting of the bill was welcomed by Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs Dinny McGinley yesterday.

The bill will also make amendments to the role and functions of Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Gaeltacht areas are currently restricted to parts of Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Waterford and two small villages in Meath.

THE JOURNAL.IE