‘Deis chaillte’ atá sa Pholasaí don Oideachas lán-Ghaeilge deireadh a chur leis an polasaí gur ionainn leis agus bac ar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge a bhunú, a deir grúpa náisiúnta.
Dhearbhaigh An Foras Pátrúnachta, an pátrún is mó ar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge, go bhfuil neamhaird á dhéanamh ar thorthaí an chomhairliúcháin agus ar thorthaí an taighde sa Pholasaí don Oideachas lán-Ghaeilge a foilsíodh an seachtain seo chaite.
Thug an tOllamh Pádraig Ó Duibhir, Cathaoirleach An Foras Pátrúnachta, le fios, “Gurab í an Ghaelscolaíocht an cur chuige is rathúla riamh sa stát maidir le teagasc agus foghlaim na Gaeilge agus ba í an phríomhtheachtaireacht ón taighde agus ón gcomhairliúchán ná go bhfuil gá le tuilleadh scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge. Cén fáth a bhfuil an tAire tar éis neamhaird a dhéanamh de mhianta an phobail?
“Is éard atá fógartha ag an Aire ná tascfhórsa a chur ar bun chun ceist atá freagartha cheana féin a fhreagairt. Is cosúil go bhfuil gach uile rud á dhéanamh seachas cinneadh a ghlacadh cur leis an soláthar lán-Ghaeilge.”
“Níl aon cheannaireacht ná fís léirithe ag an Aire maidir le spriocanna sa pholasaí. Tá an tascfhórsa nua ag obair i bhfolús gan sprioc. Féach ar an mBreatain Bheag mar léiriú ar cad a d’fhéadfadh a bheith fógartha ag an Aire inniu. Tá siad tiomanta do sprioc 40% de dhaltaí ag fáil oideachas trí Bhreatnais faoi 2050. Cén fáth nach bhfuil sprioc á leagan síos ag an Aire?”
Dar le Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, Ard-Rúnaí An Foras Pátrúnachta, “Bunaíodh 100 scoil lán-Ghaeilge idir 1980 agus 2000 nuair a bhí cúrsaí eacnamaíochta go dona. Bunaíodh 12 scoil le 10 mbliana anuas agus go leor airgid ag an stát. Tá an Roinn ag caitheamh airgead mór ag cur síneadh le scoileanna reatha, rud a mhéadaíonn an rósholáthar scoileanna meán-Bhéarla agus a dhéanann neamhaird den éileamh neamhchomhlíonta ar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge. Tá 13 chontae sa tír nach bhfuil aon Ghaelcholáiste iontu.”
Tá neamhaird á dhéanamh ar spriocanna Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge an líon cainteoirí a mhéadú. Tá neamhaird ar an gClár Rialtais líon na scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge a mhéadú. “Cad as a thiocfaidh an 20% d’earcaigh don tseirbhís phoiblí a bheidh inniúil sa Ghaeilge?” a fhiafraíonn Ó hEaghra, “Tá easpa iomlán comhoibrithe ar fud an rialtais.”
Dúirt Síofra Ní Nualláin, tuismitheoir i nGaelscoil na Mí: “Tá an-díomá orm leis an bpolasaí atá fógartha. Tá mo pháistí ar scoil i gCill Dhéagláin i ndáilcheantar an Aire. Tá 3 Ghaelscoil laistigh de 15 nóiméad uainn ach níl aon Ghaelcholáiste sa cheantar. Tá an daonra ag fás go mór agus tá an Roinn ag caitheamh na milliún ar shíneadh a chur le meánscoileanna Béarla seachas aon áit a chur ar fáil i nGaelcholáiste. Tá pobal Mhí thoir ligthe síos go mór ag an Aire inniu.”
Is é An Foras Pátrúnachta an pátrún is mó in Éirinn ar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge ag an gcéad agus an dara leibhéal. Tá 80 scoil faoina bpátrúnacht i láthair na huaire. Tá an t-eagras ina phátrún ar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge a bhfuil éiteas Caitliceach, Ilchreidmheach, agus Idirchreidmheach acu. Is é an chloch is mó ar phaidrín an eagrais ná líon na scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge a fhás ionas go mbeadh gach tuismitheoir a roghnódh oideachas lán-Ghaeilge in ann teacht ar an rogha sin dá bpáistí.
Minister for Education reinforces what is amounting to a ban on new Irish-medium schools in Policy for Irish-medium Education, according to one national group.
An Foras Pátrúnachta, the largest patron of Irish-medium schools, has stated that the Policy for Irish-medium Education, published last Thursday, ignores the results of the consultation and research commissioned by the Department.
Professor Pádraig Ó Duibhir, Chairperson of An Foras Pátrúnachta, stated, “Irish-medium education is the most successful approach to teaching and learning Irish in the state and the main message from the research and consultation was that more Irish-medium schools are needed. Why has the Minister ignored the wishes of the public?
“What the Minister has announced is the establishment of a task force to answer a question that has already been answered. It seems that everything is being done apart from taking a decision to increase Irish-medium provision.”
“The Minister has shown no leadership or vision in terms of targets in the policy. The new task force is working in a vacuum without any targets. Look at Wales as an example of what the Minister could have announced today. They are committed to a target of 40% of pupils receiving education through Welsh by 2050. Why has the Minister not set any target in this policy?’’
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta, stated “100 Irish-medium schools were established between 1980 and 2000 when the economic situation was dire. Only 12 schools have been established in the last 10 years in a period of sustained economic growth. The Department is spending millions on extending existing schools, which increases the oversupply of English-medium schools and ignores the unmet demand for Irish-medium schools. There are 13 counties in the country that do not have a single Irish-medium secondary school.”
According to Ó hEaghra, the targets of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language to increase the number of speakers are being ignored. The Programme for Government’s aim to increase the number of Irish-medium schools is being ignored. “Where will the 20% of recruits to the public service proficient in Irish come from?” “There is a complete lack of joined-up thinking throughout the government.”
Síofra Ní Nualláin, a parent in Gaelscoil na Mí, commented: “I am very disappointed with this policy. My children are at school in Ashbourne in the Minister’s constituency. There are 3 Irish-medium primary schools within 15 minutes of us but no Irish-medium secondary in the area. The population is growing rapidly and the Department is spending millions on expanding English-medium secondary schools rather than providing any places in a Gaelcholáiste. The people of East Meath have been let down by the Minister.”
An Foras Pátrúnachta is the largest patron of Irish-medium schools in Ireland at both primary and secondary level. There are 80 schools currently under its patronage. Included under its patronage are Catholic, Multi-denominational, Intra-denominational and Interdenominational schools. Its principal objective is to grow the number of Irish-medium schools so that any parent who wishes to choose Irish-medium education can have that option.