Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré, Sligeach Sligo's Irish Medium Primary School
A thuismitheoirí, a chairde,
Scríobhaim arís chugaibh maidir le obair an Bhoird Bainistíochta brú a chur ar an Rialtas foirgneamh buan a sholáthair d’ár scoil. Ár mbuíochas le gach duine a bhí i dteagmháil leis na hionadaithe náisiúnta go dtí seo. Bheimis buíoch dá bhféadfaí cóipeanna d’aon fhreagra a thagann a chur ar aghaidh chugainn freisin.
Tá áthas orm dul chun cinn a thuairisciú ó mo litir dheireanach. Tá an Roinn, don chéad uair, tar eís a dheimhniú leis an scoil go n-aithníonn siad ár riachtanais agus go bhfuil próiseas chun suíomh a aimsiú á chur chun cinn: “You are aware however that the Department has acknowledged the accommodation position in respect of Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré, and that a new building is being sought to meet its long term needs. In that regard, the Department has sought the assistance of Sligo County Council in relation to the identification and acquisition of a permanent site for the Gaelscoil. Potential site options were assessed and preferred sites have been identified. The Department is working closely with the County Council to advance the site acquisition process.”
Thuig muid go raibh liosta nua mórthionscadal tógála scoile le foilsiú go luath agus dearbhaíonn an Roinn sin linn. Cuireann siad in iúl dúinn chomh maith go mbeidh ár n-iarratas ar scoil bhuan á mheas de réir na héilimh iomaíocha ar an mbuiséad chaipitil atá acu (“will require to be assessed within the competing demands”) Deir siad freisin linn go bhfuil suirbhé náisiúnta á dhéanamh acu féachaint ar na ceantair ina bhfuil soláthar bunscoile agus iarbhunscoile sa bhreis ag teastáil. Mar sin féin, níl siad in ann aon gheallúint a thabhairt dúinn go mbeidh ár scoil cuimsithe sa chéad plean tógála eile (“is not in a position to give any commitment at this time to the inclusion of Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré in the next Construction plan.”)
Cé go bhfuil an dul chun cinn maidir le suíomh a aimsiú go maith agus ina céim chun cinn, ní chiallaíonn sé go mbeidh muid curtha ar aon liosta nua. Dá bhrí sin, ní mór dúinn leanúint ar aghaidh ag stocaireacht ar na Teachtaí Dála agus Seanadóirí chun a chinntiú go mbeidh Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré ar an liosta seo.
Tá an Bord, mar sin, ag eagrú cruinniú do thuismitheoirí a bheadh sásta cuidiú leis an bhfeachtas stocaireachta ach go háirithe tríd cuairt a thabhairt ar na clinicí na bpolaiteoirí. Beidh an cruinniú ar siúl sa scoil ar an Déardaoin seo, 25 MEITHEAMH, ag 8.30pm. Ag an gcruinniú seo beimid ag tuairisciú ar an dul chun cinn go dtí seo agus ar na pointí is fiú a ardú leis na polaiteoirí.
Thíos, mar chúnamh duit, tá sonraí teagmhála na hionadaithe poiblí don dáilcheantar seo.
I write to you again in relation to the Board of Management’s efforts to have the Government commit to providing a new building for our school. Our thanks to all those who have contacted the national representatives to date. We would be grateful if you could forward copies of any replies received to the school.
I am happy to report some progress since my last letter. The Department have, for the first time, confirmed to the school that they acknowledge our needs and that a site acquisition process is being advanced: “You are aware however that the Department has acknowledged the accommodation position in respect of Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré, and that a new building is being sought to meet its long term needs. In that regard, the Department has sought the assistance of Sligo County Council in relation to the identification and acquisition of a permanent site for the Gaelscoil. Potential site options were assessed and preferred sites have been identified. The Department is working closely with the County Council to advance the site acquisition process.”
We understood that a new major school building project list was to be published soon and the Department have confirmed this. They also inform us that our application “will require to be assessed within the competing demands” on their capital budget and that a nationwide survey is being undertaken to identify where additional primary and post primary provision is required. However, the Department “is not in a position to give any commitment at this time to the inclusion of Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré in the next Construction plan.”
While the site acquisition progress is welcome and represents a step forward, it does not guarantee that we will be included on the new list. We need therefore to continue to lobby all local TDs and senators, and others, to ensure that Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré is on this list.
The Board is organising a meeting for parents who would be willing to assist in the lobbying campaign through correspondence but particularly by visiting the clinics of the politicians. The meeting will be held in the school this coming Thursday, June 25th, at 8.30pm. At this meeting we will brief you on the progress to date and on the points that need to be raised with the politicians.
Below again for your assistance are contact details for the public representatives for this constituency.
Is mise, le meas,
Bartley Ó Gabháin, Cathaoirleach
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AIRE
Jan O’Sullivan minister@education.gov.ie 01 618 3434, Minister for Education and Skills. Leinster House, Dublin 2.
TDs
John Perry john.perry@oireachtas.ie – 087 2459407
Tony Mc Loughlin mcloughlintony@eircom.net – 087 6633587
Michael Colreavy michael@colreavy.net – 087 2499476
SEANADÓIRÍ
Sen Marc Mc Sharry mmacsharry@oireachtas.ie 0862674764
Sen Imelda Henry imelda.henry@oir.ie 087 8177777
Sen Michael Comiskey michael.comiskey@oir.ie 9164245/01 6183453
Sen Susan O Keeffe susan.okeeffe@oireachtas.ie 085 1314084/ 01 6183870
Sen Paschal Mooney paschal.mooney@oireachtas.ie 071-9641236/0872545613