A Gaelcholáiste is being called for from the Minister for Education, Norma Foley, TD for the school area with five Gaelscoils located in Dublin 2, 4, 6, and 8. There is not even as much as one Gaelcholáiste in the school area even though there are 44 secondary schools that operate through the medium of English in the same area.
Including school pupils, teachers, principals and parents, a crowd of over 200 came to Leinster House today, Wednesday, November 16, at 11:00 calling for a Gaelcholáiste for the school area where these five Gaelscoils: Scoil Bhríde; Gaelscoil Lios na nÓg; Scoil Mológa: Bunscoil Synge: and Gaelscoil Eoin are located. As part of their creative event there was singing, speeches, dancing and they presented artwork to politicians to give to the Minister of Education.
Cormac Chambers, Principal of Gaelscoil Lios na nÓg said:
“Our Gaelscoil, Gaelscoil Lios na nÓg, and the other Gaelscoileanna in our school area are providing a first-class education through Irish to more than 1,000 students, but we cannot give those students and their parents the option to continue the their education through the medium of Irish in second level in our school district because there is no Gaelcholáiste, even though there are 44 secondary schools that operate through the medium of English."
We have been calling on the Minister of Education, Norma Foley, to make a decision to establish a Gaelcholáiste in our school district since she started as Minister but she has not done so yet. We do not understand why she hasn’t, especially when it is taken into account that it is a commitment in the Government's own Programme for Government to work towards doubling the number of young people in Irish medium schools. There are over 1,000 students in this school area without a Gaelcholáiste. We are looking for action to establish a Gaelcholáiste in our area without further delay.”.
Karen Hinkson-Deeny, a parent with a child in Gaelscoil Eoin said:
“As a parent seeking second level education for my children through the medium of Irish, I do not understand why the Government is not willing to provide that option in the area where my children and I and their friends live. The Minister of Education, Norma Foley, has an opportunity to make a decision that would serve a large number of students and families in our school area and I, on behalf of my children and other parents in this school district, am asking her to act to provide fairness for us.”
The number of students in Gaelscoil Lios na nÓg, Scoil Mológa, Scoil Bhríde, Bunscoil Synge and Gaelscoil Eoin are to grow from 1000+ pupils to 1,500+ pupils. 128 pupils are currently leaving 6th class and 197 will be leaving 6th class in the future. There is no post-primary school that operates through Irish in the school area where these schools are located.
Further information and to organise an interview:
Julian de Spáinn, Chair of the Campaign for a Gaelcholáiste in 2,4,6,8
086 8142757 |
Photos from Photocall Ireland:
And additional information available here.
