Candidates from most parties contesting the Dublin South bi-election were joined by county councillors, children and parents to express their support for our campaign outside the school in Sydenham Road.
Ní Coláiste nua go cabhair
The candidates were treated to a colourful and good natured display from the children from our local primary level Gaelscoileanna wearing our “an bhfuil cead againn dul go dtí an Gaelcholáiste?” t-shirts which ask for them to be allowed continue their education through Irish at second level.
Senator Alex White (Labour)
Senator Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fáil)
At the event we pointed out that there had been a huge increase in the number of students attending Gaelscoileanna in the area:
The students from the various Gaelscoileanna were very enthusiatic about the opportunity to come together in a new Gaelcholáiste after Rang a Sé
Since 2001 there has been a massive increase in the number of children attending Gaelscoileanna in South Dublin. While 93 students graduated from 6th class in 2001, there were 183 leaving the same schools in 2009. There will be a projected 203 pupils leaving 6th class from the six Gaelscoileanna in this area in 2011. That represents a 226% increase since 2001. There has been no corresponding increase in the provision of second level places teaching through Irish. Where exactly will the additional students go after ‘Rang a Se’?
Elizabeth Davidson (Green)
Shaun Tracey (Sinn Féin)
We have shown that there is enough demand to fill a 350 pupil secondary school in South Dublin twice over. We have a suitable building available here which will cost at most €3million to refurbish to the appropriate standards. This is relatively very little in comparison to the €20million or so which a standard 350 pupil-school built on a green field site would cost. This refurbishment need not be done all at once, but can easily take place on a rolling basis where the cost could be spread over some three to five years as the student body expands: that puts a price tag of €575,000 per year over five years for the entire school.
We drew on the thoughts of Dr Finbarr Bradley to point out that linguistic diversity and innovation, which is seen as the only way out of our current economic difficulties, go hand in hand:
According to Dr Bradley in a recent publication by Iontaobhas Gaelscoilaíochta:
“This is why Irish-medium education is so crucial. In an innovation age, the Irish language is central to the development process, both north and south. It does this through its contribution to wholeness, integrity, civic responsibility, aesthetic sensibility and ecological concern.”
Councillor Aidan Culhane (Labour)
Councillors Pat Hand (Fine Gael) and Tony Fox (Fianna Fáil)
Up until now there has been a barrier placed in the way of the development Irish language education in this area. This barrier prevents the further development of the Irish speaking community in this area and it denies many of the children of Gaelscoileanna the right to carry on their Irish language education into second level. This barrier also stands in the way to the growth of modern, technical education…we ask that this barrier be removed by the sanctioning of the school by the use of a little imagination and forethought from the Department of Education which could sanction the opening of this school at relatively little cost to the taxpayer.
In attendance were parents and children from GS Thaobh na Coille, GS Chnoc Liamhna, Scoil Naithí and Lios na nÓg, Senators Alex White (Labour candidiate for Dublin South) and Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fáil), Dublin South Candidates Elizabeth Davidson (Green) and Shaun Tracey (Sinn Féin), Councillors Aidan Culhane (Labour), Pat Hand (Fine Gael), Tony Fox (Fianna Fáil) and Sinn Féin’s candidate for DLR County Council Oonagh O’Reilly.
Oonagh O'Reilly (Sinn Féin)
Thanks to all for the support
Ní coláiste nua go cabhair!