Gaelscoil still has no premises

AN Irish school due to open on the Southside later this year still has no premises, it has emerged.

Over 200 pupils have registered for Gael-Choláiste an Phiarsaigh
in Dundrum and 46 of them are due to start classes there on September 1.

The Chairperson of the new school, Lorcán Mac Gabhann, claims that while the Department of Education made a decision to open a Gael-Choláiste for the greater Dundrum area over two years ago, neither parents or the Board of Management were consulted as to where the school should be located to best suit their needs.

He further claimed that while the board had been working hard over the last year there had been little meaningful engagement with the department regarding a location for the school.

“The Board of Management of the Gael-Choláiste is urgently demanding a meeting with the Minister of Education and Skills to discuss the lack of consultation and dialogue with parents and board over the future location of the school,

? he said.

One parent of a child due to start in September, Donal Duibhginn, said: “There is no other provision for Irish medium education available for our son in the area and Gael-Choláiste an Phiarsaigh is our last hope to provide the type of education we wish for our children.”

Another parent, Sarah Flynn, added: “It is incredibly difficult for us as parents when our children ask where they will be starting next September and we have no answer for them.

“This uncertainty is placing a huge strain on the children.”

The Green Party’s Deputy Leader and Education Spokesperson, Catherine Martin, expressed shock that the school that is due to open in September is still without a premises.

Ms Martin, who is a teacher herself and a local election candidate in the Dundrum ward, urged the Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, to have a meaningful and urgent engagement with parents and the Board of Management of Gael-Choláiste an Phiarsaigh.

“The proposed addition of this new school is excellent news for the local community,

? she said.

“It will be serving the greater Dundrum area, and already has over 200 students registered with 46 of them due to commence in September.

“So it is simply not good enough that neither the parents nor the school’s Board of Management to have been consulted on the best possible location for this school.

?

Ms Martin added:

“All second level schools are busy preparing for the new Junior Cycle that is due to start in September with the introduction of the new English syllabus to incoming first year pupils.

“It is grossly unfair to burden the school with this fundamental issue concerning the uncertainty of the actual location of the school. It is unacceptable.

?

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said they were working with the patron of Gael-Choláiste an Phiarsaigh to identify and secure suitable accommodation for the school’s start up in 2014.

“In relation to the permanent location of the Gael-Choláiste, a number of options have been identified and are being progressed,

? the spokesperson said.

“Negotiations are ongoing and therefore, given the sensitivities associated with land acquisitions, the department is not in a position to comment further at this time.

?