The Minister said: “My Department has a duty to encourage and facilitate the provision of Irish-medium education, but I must be satisfied that proposals for a new school will lead to viable schools providing good quality education for their pupils.
“I have considered this proposal very carefully and I have met with, and listened to, those involved. I am not convinced that this proposal would achieve sustainable intakes and that the proposed funding arrangements with Coláiste Feirste would represent a good way forward to deliver post-primary provision for the area in the medium of Irish. I recognise that there is a demand for post-primary provision in the area and there needs to be a full exploration of options which could deliver sustainable provision.”
Coláiste Speirín had 6 pupils enrolled during 2007/08. The 2008/09 intake was 3 new pupils. To qualify for funding the school would have needed an intake of 50 new pupils.
The Minister went on to indicate that there is a need for a strategic and sustainable approach to Irish-medium post-primary education.
The Minister said: “With the increasing growth in the numbers of children attending Irish-medium primary schools, there is a need to plan for sustainable post-primary provision for the future.
“I will shortly be publishing the report on the review of Irish-medium education policy. The report will include proposals for sustainable post-primary provision. It will be important that the Department, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (CnaG), Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta (InaG) and other stakeholders examine jointly how a strategic approach should best be progressed."
Notes to Editors:
- The Southern Education and Library Board (SELB) published Development Proposal No 222 on 17 April 2008 that the Board of Governors of Colaiste Speirin, in conjunction with An Foras Patrunachta, propose that this scheme be grant-aided, with Colaiste Feirste acting as a conduit for funding, from April 2008 or as soon as possible thereafter.
- Coláiste Speirín opened as an independent post-primary college in Cookstown on 3 September 2007.
- There were 6 pupils enrolled in the 2007/08 school year.
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