Cairde Teo – Fiontraíocht Shóisialta ag feidhmiú ar son na teanga
Samhain 12, 2012
Bunaíodh Cairde Teoranta i 2009 agus é mar sprioc ag an ghrúpa fóras sóisialta agus stádas gnó a thabhairt don Ghaeilge i gcathair Ard Mhacha.
Táthar ag obair i gcuideachta eagrais chultúrtha Ard Mhacha le greasán Gaelach na cathrach a fhorbairt.
Thug Meon Eile cuairt orthu ar na mallaibh, trí bliana i ndiaidh a mbunaithe, lena scéal agus a bplean don todhchaí a chluinstin.
Rinneadh plé ar an chultúrlann nua, gnó le Gaeilge agus an 400 páiste atá ag tabhairt faoin Ghaeloideachas i gcathair Ard Mhacha agus an freastal atá á dhéanamh ag Cairde Teo. ar thuismitheoirí atá a gcur a gcuid páistí ar Ghaelscéal ach nach bhfuil Gaeilge ar a dtoil acu féin…
Féach ar an bhfíseán anseo: Meon Eile
Minister Quinn & EIB President welcome start to construction of eight schools unlocking Public Private Partnership Model
Samhain 12, 2012
The Minister for Education and Skills warmly welcomed the start of construction today (Monday 12th November) of eight schools which are being delivered under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. These are the first public sector projects to be funded under the PPP model since June 2010.
These schools in counties Westmeath, Leitrim, Limerick, Galway, Donegal, Wexford and Waterford are the third bundle of schools to be built under the Department of Education and Skills school PPP programme. They are part of the five year school building programme already announced by Minister Ruairí Quinn T.D. earlier this year.
A loan of €50 million has been secured through the European Investment Bank (EIB) which has meant these new schools can now proceed to construction. The total value of the construction costs is estimated to be approximately €100 million.
The eight schools will provide accommodation for approximately 5,700 students. Six of the eight schools are second level schools; while the two remaining schools to be built in Doughiska, Co. Galway, are a primary and a secondary school which will share a single campus.
Minister Quinn said, “This is very good news for the communities in counties stretching from Donegal to Waterford who have been waiting for their school building projects to be given the green light.”
“I am particularly pleased that the EIB has again decided to support the Department’s schools capital investment programme with a loan of €50 million which will assist in funding this investment. It is a further signal of the bank’s renewed confidence in the Irish State and our recovery programme.”
President of the EIB,Werner Hoyer, said, “The landmark agreement to support construction of eight new schools marks the reopening of the PPP sector in Ireland. The European Investment Bank is committed to enabling education investment in Ireland. This project complements EIB support provided in July to build 550 new classrooms and backing to redevelop University College Dublin a year ago.”
The National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) is responsible for advising State Authorities on the best financing of priority public investment projects. These eight schools in PPP Bundle 3 were referred to the NDFA in July 2010 to assist in securing funding.
BAM PPP was appointed preferred tenderer in September 2011 and all planning issues were granted by May of this year. Now that funding has been secured, construction is expected to begin immediately. The project financing includes EIB, Bank of Ireland and the National Pensions Reserve Fund.
Theo Cullinane, BAM Chief Executive said, “We are pleased to be investing in the Irish market and to have been able to partner with the Department of Education and Skills, the NDFA and our senior lenders Bank of Ireland, the European Investment Bank and the National Pensions Reserve Fund to develop a financing solution for the project. The successful financing of this project augurs well for future PPP projects.”
Tom Hayes, Chief Executive of Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking, said, “This transaction highlights Bank of Ireland’s commitment to supporting local communities throughout the country. It will create more than 1,000 much needed jobs during construction and on completion will provide first class educational facilities for over 5,700 pupils and serve generations to come.”
Earlier this year, Minister Quinn unveiled a five year Schools Capital Programme worth €1.5 billion. This will see a total of 275 major school buildings projects commenced between now and 2016. The €50 million loan being provided by the EIB will assist in funding this investment. Since 2008 the European Investment Bank has provided nearly €350 million for investment in schools and universities in Ireland.
All schools are expected to be completed by 2014. Their completion will bring the total number of schools delivered under the PPP model in the State to 23.
The schools which will be built under PPP Bundle 3 are:
- Athlone Community College, Co. Westmeath
- Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim
- Doon, Co. Limerick
- Doughiska Post Primary, Co.Galway
- Merlin Woods Primary School (Doughiska), Co. Galway
- Creagh College, Gorey, Co. Wexford
- Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
- Tramore, Co. Waterford
education.ie
Éagsúlacht Phátrúnachta – Suirbhé ar Thuismitheoirí – Spriocdháta Meánoíche Aoine an 9 Samhain
Samhain 9, 2012
Suirbhéanna ar fáil anseo: education.ie
Faoiseamh maidir le cúntóir ranga Gaelscoile
Samhain 9, 2012
Bogadh cúntóir ranga as Béal Feirste, Caoimhe Prigent amach as an aonad dianchúram ag tús na seachtaine seo i ndiaidh di seachtain a chaitheamh ann de bharr taisme inár thit sí ón bhus scoile.
Scoilteadh cloigeann Caoimhe nuair a thit sí ón bhus scoile ag timpeall 8.30r.n ar an bhealach chuig Scoil an Droichid ar Bhóthar Ormeau, áit ina raibh sí ag obair mar chúntoir ranga. Bhí inchinn Chaoimhe ata agus rinneadh obráid uirthi le linn na seachtaine le dul i ngleic leis sin.
“Tá cuma dhearfach ar rudaí le dhá lá anuas agus dea-toradh ar an obráid. Tá faoiseamh orainn go bhfuil sí múscailte.” arsa Liam Prigent, athair na mná óige.
“Ní a fhios againn féin cén dóigh ar tharla an taisme, beidh níos mó eolais faoi nuair a thagann Caoimhe ar ais chuici féin. Tá muid dearfach go bhfuil feabhas ag teacht uirthi de réir a chéile” arsa seisean.
Rinne Bord bainistíochta Scoil an Droichid cinneadh gan labhairt leis na meáin ach dheimhnigh siad go raibh foireann na scoile ag coinneáil i dteagmháil le muintir Caoimhe agus ag iarraidh na daltaí a chur ar an eolas fúithi.
Bhí cuid mhór ráflaí faoi cad é ar tharla agus faoin tionchar a bheadh ar a leithéid de thaisme ar pháistí ach mhaígh Príomhoide na scoile, Fionnuala Mc Cotter nach bhfaca na daltaí an taisme.
Tá Caoimhe faoi chúram in Oispidéal Victoria Ríoga i mBéal Feirste go fóill.
http://www.gaelsceal.ie/
Coláiste Feirste ag feitheamh ar bhus go fóill
Samhain 9, 2012
NÍL socrú go fóill maidir le córas saorthaistil agus busanna faoi leith do dhaltaí Choláiste Feirste. Sin ainneoin gur rialaigh Ard-Chúirt an Tuaiscirt in athbhreithniú breithiúnach bliain ó shin gur ceart go mbeadh. Níl fiú iomrá ar dháta lena leithéidí a chur i bhfeidhm.
An tseachtain seo caite, agus iad ag tabhairt freagra ar cheist ó Ghaelscéal, dúirt an Roinn Oideachais nár socraíodh cúr- saí maidir le córas taistil don scoil go fóill. Dar leis an urlabhraí go raibh an breithiú- nas suntasach agus táb- hachtach “which requires careful and detailed consideration.”
Bhí athscrúdú déanta ag stát- sheirbhísigh ar an gceist. Tá torthaí an athscrúdaithe anois faoi bhráid an Aire, John O’Dowd ó Shinn Féin. Ní raibh an t-urlabhraí in ann a rá má bhí amscála ann.
An 27ú Eanáir anuraidh, chuir an Comhalta den Tionól Reachtach Dáithí McKay ceist ar O’Dowd maidir le ceist an taistil. D’fhreagair O’Dowd go raibh dianscrúdú cúramach de dhíth sula mbeadh sé ábalta freagra a thabhairt. Bhí a chuid stáitseirbhíseach le moltaí a thabhairt dó “in the near future.”
Tá an breithúnas a thug an Bhreitheamh Treacy soiléar: “In my view the provision of transport facilities to schools in any sector is critial to the development of that sector and the provision of genuine perental choice..the respondent must now to the extent required by this judgement reconsider the matter”.
Baineann an cás ach go háirithe le dhá grúpa dalta. Is iad an chéad dream ná daltaí i dtuaisceart Bhéil Feirste, i gceantracha Lag an Aoil, Ard Eoin agus an Seanpháirc. De réir rialacha na Roinne, ní tugtar cuidiú le taisteal do dhaltaí meánscoile má tá siad fá trí mhíle den scoil. Tá na ceantracha seo faoin raon sin – ach go mbeadh ar na daltaí siúil trí ceantar dílseach na Seanchille. De réir na rialacha, tá cead ag an Bhord Oideachais agus Leabharlainne a fhiosrú “whether there are circumstances sufficiently exceptional to set aside normal circumstances..”
Is iad an dara dream ná daltaí as Dún Pádraig, 23 míle ón scoil. Bhí an Cllr. Cadogan Enright ón mbaile ar dhuine den mhuintir a chur tús leis an athbhreithniú breithiúnach. Bhí iníon s’aige ar an scoil nuair a cuireadh tús leis, sa tríú bliain ar an ollscoil nuair a eistíodh é. Dúirt sé go raibh idir fearg agus díomá air.
“Thug an breithiúnas cead don Aire polasaí Shinn Féin san earnáil seo a chuir i bhfeidhm,” ar seisean.
http://www.gaelsceal.ie/
Gaelscoil Riabhach – Brat Buí faighte!
Samhain 9, 2012
Tá áthas an domhain orainn a fhógairt go bhfuil an Brat Buí againn. Ba muid an chéad scoil i gCúige Connacht chun é a fháil agus tá muid an-bhródúil den obair a rinneadh anuraidh. Chuaigh dream ón scoil chun é a fháil Dé Máirt seo caite agus ba mhór an onóir é a fháil ó John Joe Nevin, an buaiteoir boinn Oilimpigh. Is scoil il-chreidmheach í Gaelscoil Riabhach agus is siombal é an Brat Buí den fáilte a chuirtear sa scoil roimh gach éinne agus den obair a dhéantar an t-am ar fad i gCroí na Scoile. An mhí seo céard a bhéas ar siúl againn nó á foghlam againn chun Croí na Scoile a láidriú?
http://gaelscoilriabhach.scoilnet.ie/blog/
Feighlí linbh le Gaeilge
Samhain 8, 2012
Feighlí linbh de dhíth chun cúram a dhéanamh de bheirt (báibín 8 mí agus buachaill beag 2 bhliain agus 4 mhí) ó thús Aibreán 2013 ina dteach féin.
Teaghlach lán-Ghaeilge atá ann a d’fháilteodh roimh fhiosraithe ó fheighlithe leis an taithí chuí.
Lonnaithe i mBÁC 15.
Cúram lán-aimseartha, Luan-Aoine ó 8.30 – 18.00 a bheadh ann.
Féadfar teagmháil a dhéanamh le Bláthnaid ag blathnaidnighreachain@gmail.com
Nuachtlitir AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA
Samhain 8, 2012
Nuachtlitir Samhain 2012 An Foras Pátrúnachta
Gaelgoir students learn from hurler ‘Gizzy’
Samhain 8, 2012
Over 200 secondary school students gathered at Whites Hotel recently to hear of the advantages of the ‘cúpla focal’.
Buntáiste Breise na Gaeilge was the title of a range of seminars being held by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge across the country, highlighting the advantages of the Irish language. A number of guest speakers spoke of the advantages which the Irish language has afforded them in their own careers. Special guest speaker on the day was Wexford hurling star Diarmuid ‘Gizzy’ Lyng, and he addressed the crowd of enthusiastic students on the benefits of our native language.
The goal of the event was to inspire the group of youngsters and motivate them to consider the Irish language when choosing their career path. Students were also given the opportunity to ask the speakers questions and to take part in lively debate on the issue of the language. Representatives from various third level institutes from all over the country were also present to give information on the variety of third level courses which they offer to students who wish to pursue a career through the medium of Irish.
Further information about these seminars is available from Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge at 01 679 4780 or by sending an e-mail to eolas@gaelport.com.
www.goreyguardian.ie
Pupils leave cramped school behind
Samhain 7, 2012
Schoolchildren waved goodbye to cramped classrooms yesterday before a triumphant march into a spacious new state-of-the-art school.
Years of campaigning for the building finally came to end as hundreds of pupils of Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin in Ballincollig, Co Cork, walked 3km from the old school in Coolroe, founded above a shop almost 30 years ago, for their first day of classes in the €4.5m purpose-built, 24-classroom, three-storey building in Carriganarra.
Education Minister Ruairí Quinn said he was delighted the school was now open to classes. There were emotional scenes as founding principal Gabriel Ó Cathasaigh led cheering pupils and their parents through the front door.
“We have a fantastic facility here — or Áras na Gaeilge as I like to call it,” he said.
“We have a special location where the Irish language can blossom. There is a huge demand for Irish here, and there is a huge amount of Irish to be heard in Ballincollig and this school will help in a big way.”
Vice-principal Bríd Ní Chonchubhair said that the space in the new school is “just unbelievable”. “It was very cramped in the old building,” she explained.
“But we have loads of space here now. Even in the corridors — you could have drama, ceoil, and craic outside there.”
Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin was founded in 1983 in a room above a small supermarket in Coolroe close to the former home of poet Seán Ó Ríordáin — for whom the school is named.
Mr Ó Cathasaigh was its first and only teacher, with 15 children in junior infants class. As Ballincollig grew and pupil numbers soared, the building was adapted to accommodate more classrooms, and several prefabs were added in recent years.
Today, the school has some 530 pupils and more than 26 teachers. The department of education was paying some €250,000 in rent for the Coolroe site. The need for a new building was recognised more than a decade ago. But despite three public calls by the government during the height of the building boom for potential sites for a new school, a suitable site failed to emerge.
The 1.2-hectare site in Carriganarra site was eventually deemed suitable by the Office of Public Works, but a deal to buy it wasn’t completed until 2009, with planning permission granted in 2010. Glenman Corporation was appointed the main contractors, with Healy Kelly Turner and Townsend as project managers to deliver the school under the department’s Rapid Build School Programme.
It has been designed to accommodate 750 pupils and it is expected that three new classes of up to 30 pupils will be accepted each year for the next three years. It boasts a general purpose hall, a library and resource rooms, three ball courts, and a junior play space.
The completion date of July was missed and minor snag delayed a September handover.
www.irishexaminer.com
