Gaelcholáiste moves one step closer

The Gaelcholáiste Steering Committee is happy to report that the project is progressing rapidly towards opening a new All-Irish secondary school in Carrigaline, which is still on course for September 2014.

We met with Joan Russell, CEO of Cork County VEC, last Monday, 3rd September. She confirmed that the VEC were officially appointed by the Department of Education as Patron of the school, and therefore are the project managers for the development.

The VEC is in the process of selecting and commissioning the design team who will propose a design for the site, and hopefully agree it in principal with the planning authority over the next few months . The new Gaelscoil and Sonas school will be part of the same project and all three schools will be developed as one project.

 

When detailed plans are completed, they will be submitted for formal planning approval for the new Gael campus on the Ballinrea Road, Carrigaline. The budget is in place and we are confident that construction of the campus will commence in the course of 2013.

The VEC have confirmed that they will be advertising for places again early in the new year. All enrolments through the committee have been passed
on to the VEC also.

We will keep parents informed of any further developments as they happen.

Dia dhaoibh, a chairde,

We are delighted to announce that at a meeting of Cork County Council on Tuesday 19th last, the councillors voted overwhelmingly to rezone the 21 acres on the Ballinrea road for educational purposes. This will facilitate the building of a Gael Campus, a new Gaelcholaiste and the relocating of the existing gaelscoil, as well as the relocating of the present Sonas school for children with special needs. 37 voted in favour, 3 were absent and, surprisingly, the Labour party, led by local Carrigaline councillor Paula Desmond, abstained from voting.

We would like to thank everyone who helped us in canvassing the local councillors in the past few weeks, it is very much appreciated.

Ba mhaith linn ar mbuíochas a ghabháil le gach duine a chabhraigh linn le coicís anuas ag dul chuig comhairleoirí áitiúla.

An chéad chéim eile, an Ghaelcholáiste abú!

Dia Dhaoibh, a chairde,

We are delighted to announce that at a meeting of Cork County Councillors on Tuesday 19th, they voted overwhelmingly by a majority of 37 votes, to rezone the land on the Ballinrea Road for educational purposes so as to facilitate a new campus. This is a milestone in the campaign for a new Gaelcholáiste. The Labour Party, led by local councillor Paula Desmond, abstained in voting.

We would like to thank everyone who has helped in canvassing the local Carrigaline councillors in the past few weeks with letters and emails, your help is very much appreciated.

Ba mhaith linn ár mbuíochas ó chroí a ghabháil le gach duine a chabhraigh linn ag impí ar chomhairleoirí áitiúla chun an chinneadh seo a bhaint amach.

An Ghaelcholáiste abú,

School has been approved!!

A Chairde,

We are pleased to announce that the Gaelcholáiste has been approved! Tánaiste Mary Coughlan has agreed 1.8 million for the purchase of land in Ballinrea. It will be an education campus with an all-Irish seondary school, a new primrary school (probably relocation of existing gaelscoil) and a school for special needs.
We will more than likely open our doors in September 2012.
We would like to thank all those who helped in our campaign, all those involved in different committees and especially Michael Mcgrath TD who was the only local TD to campaign for us in the Dáil.
We look forward to the huge work ahead in developing this new venture.
Ar aghaidh linn chuig an chéad céim eile, an ghaeilge abú!

Meeting with Batt o keefe

A Chairde,
The committee will meet with Batt O Keefe next Saturday 27th September. We hope to know then if our new school is getting approval.

dept meeting

A chairde,
The committee met with three Dept of Education officials last tuesday 22nd July in the Carrigaline Court hotel. The committee was represented by Noel O Regan and Adrian Breathnach. Also present was Barra O Briain representing our patron, the VEC. The meeting lasted an hour and a half and our case was made comprehensively. The Dept will now make their report and will submit it to Batt O Keefe who has the final say on whether we will get temporary recognition or not. They assured us we will know by the first week in september.Fingers crossed!

cruinniú le Mícheál Martin

A chairde,
Bhuail baill den gcoiste leis an Aire Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha Mícheál Martin i gCarraig Uí Leighin. Tá sé chun labhairt le Batt O Keefe ar ár son agus má tá gá, lena iar-chomhoibrithe sa Roinn Oideachais.

A chairde,
Members of the committee met with Minister for Foreign Affairs Mícheál Martin in Carrigaline yesterday. He is going to speak to Batt O Keefe on our behalf and if needs be he will speak to his former colleagues in the Dept of Education.