Skip the NI Direct Bar
Skip navigation

Education Minister announces new Irish-medium nursery unit at Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh, Belfast

Tuesday, 2 March 2010

Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, has approved the establishment of an Irish-medium nursery unit at Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh, Belfast.

The nursery unit, which replaces an existing funded playgroup, will provide 26 full-time places. In approving the proposal, Ms Ruane highlighted that the nursery unit will be particularly beneficial, as Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh is located in an area of high social need.

She also highlighted that the decision supports the objective of providing a year of good quality pre-school education for every child whose parents wish it. She said: “I believe in giving our children the best possible start as learners. Effective pre-school education helps the development of children and improves their social and communication skills, all of which are vital to helping them achieve.

“This new nursery unit will help set foundations for a successful school life through the medium of Irish. It is located in an area of high social need and is part of a very successful Irish-medium school. The earlier children begin to develop skills in a second language, the more opportunities are open to them”.

Research shows the importance of pre-school experience for children. Those who receive it are more sociable and independent and learn more quickly when they enter primary school than those who have not.

Note to editors:

  1. On 24 September 2009, the Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB) published Development Proposal No 193, which proposes that an Irish-medium nursery unit should be established at Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh, with effect from 1 September 2009 or as soon as possible thereafter. The statutory two-month consultation period expired on 24 November 2009. The school is content that it will be 1 September 2010 before the nursery unit will become operational.
  2. Bunscoil an tSléibh Dhuibh is situated in the Ballymurphy Road in West Belfast. The existing playgroup, Naiscoil an tSleibh Dhuibh, was established in 1990 to meet the local demand for Irish-medium pre-school provision in the Ballymurphy, Upper Springfield and Whiterock areas. It acts as a feeder playgroup to the Bunscoil and had 14 PEAG funded places in 2009/10.