Gaeloideachas warmly welcomes the announcement by the Minister for Education, Norma Foley, that An Foras Pátrúnachta has been awarded the patronage of the new Irish-medium primary schools which will open this year to serve the Dublin 2-4 and Dublin 13 areas. Gaelscoil Eoin and Gaelscoil Ghráinne Mhaol, along with Gaelscoil Lir in Saggart, Dublin, will welcome their first junior infant classes in September this year. 

2020 was an exceptional year in which to run campaigns for new schools. The Department of Education uses a competitive process to choose patrons for new schools, where prospective patrons depend on votes from parents to support their application. “Due to the impact of Covid-19, it was more difficult than ever to undertake a public consultation to inform parents about the benefits of Irish-medium education for their children; how it’s suitable for all, how immersion education works and what the advantages of multi-denominational education are. With public meetings ruled out, very successful online campaigns were run in the two areas, and we are grateful to parents and the Irish language community for their help in spreading the word” said Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, Gaeloideachas CEO.  

It had been decided in advance that the two schools would be Irish-medium schools, thanks to changes made to the process by the Department of Education in 2019. The reforms mean that where there is no Irish-medium school in a school planning area, the Department will pre-designate the school as a gaelscoil. “This new approach shows great commitment to the future of Irish-medium education, and Gaeloideachas congratulates the Minister on demonstrating support for the model” said Seán Ó hArgáin, Gaeloideachas President.  

The process at post-primary level has not yet been reformed, however, and until that changes, it will remain a challenge to make sure that primary school children have the opportunity to continue their education through Irish to Leaving Certificate level. Gaeloideachas continues to lobby on this issue, working to realise our vision that high-quality Irish-medium immersion education should be available to every parent and guardian who would choose it for their child. 

Further information and registration details for the three new primary schools is available on www.gaelscoil4all.ie, and we look forward to supporting their communities in the future as they go from strength to strength. 

Contact: 

Blathnaid ní Ghréacháin, Ardfheidhmeannach Gaeloideachas | blathnaid@gaeloideachas.ie | 01 8535190 | 086 8050335 

Seán Ó hArgáin, Uachtarán | uachtaran@gaeloideachas.ie

Anna Ní Chartúir, OCP | ocp@gaeloideachas.ie