PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, 3rd November 2016
New multi-denominational school announced for Portlaoise
An Foras Pátrúnachta, the largest patron for Irish-medium schools in Ireland, has been selected as a trustee partner of a new secondary school in Portlaoise along with Laois Offaly Education and Training Board. The joint application was approved and announced today (03.11.16) by the Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD.
The co-educational and multi-denominational school will open in 2017 and aims to grow enrolment to cater for up to 1,000 pupils in the area. The new school will also include an Irish-medium unit. For the first time, it is planned to grow an Irish-medium unit into an independent Gaelcholáiste under the co-patronage of the two organisations.
Speaking today, Caoimhín O’hEaghra, General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta said: "We are delighted to have been approved as a trustee partner for this new secondary school in Portlaoise. We look forward to working with Laois Offaly Education and Training Board who have a long history of excellent education provision in this region.
‘‘Choice is very important to An Foras Pátrúnachta and we are delighted that parents’ preferences were considered as part of this patronage selection process. The new school in Portlaoise will provide diversity in being both co-educational and multi-denominational.
‘‘Our aim is provide Irish-medium education to every child who wants it. The Irish-medium unit will ensure that there is more diversity of language provision and we will use our expertise to grow the Irish-medium unit in the new secondary school into an independent Gaelcholáiste under the co-patronage of the two organisations.’’
ENDS
Contact: Sarah Harte / Laura Harmon DHR Communications, Tel: 01-4200580 / 087-9858259 / 086-1738455
- Interviews with An Foras Pátrúnachta General Secretary, Caoimhín O’hEaghra available on request.
About An Foras Pátrúnachta: An Foras Pátrúnachta is the largest patron for Irish medium schools in Ireland at both primary and secondary level. An Foras Pátrúnachta schools have a range of multi-denominational, inter-denominational and denominational ethos and seek to develop, strengthen and promote education through the medium of Irish throughout the country. Find out more about An Foras Pátrúnachta here: www.foras.ie. Follow An Foras Pátrúnachta on Facebook and Twitter.
Preasráiteas
Déardaoin 3 Samhain 2016
Meánscoil ilchreidmheach nua fógartha do Phort Laoise
Tá An Foras Pátrúnachta, an pátrún is mó ar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge in Éirinn, roghnaithe mar iontaobhaí ar mheánscoil nua i bPort Laoise i bpáirtnéireacht le Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Laoise agus Uíbh Fháilí. D’fhógair an tAire Oideachais agus Scileanna, Richard Bruton TD an toradh inniu (03.11.16) ar an gcomhiarratas.
Osclóidh an scoil ilchreidmheach agus comhoideachasúil i 2017 agus beidh suas le 1,000 dalta ag freastal uirthi amach anseo. Beidh aonad lán-Ghaeilge mar chuid den scoil úr. Den chéad uair, tá sé beartaithe go bhfásfaidh an tAonad ina Ghaelcholáiste neamhspleách faoi chomhphátrúnacht an dá eagraíocht.
Agus é ag trácht ar an bhfógra inniu, dúirt Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, Ard-Rúnaí An Foras Pátrúnachta: “Is cúis áthais dúinn go bhfuil An Foras ainmnithe mar iontaobhaí ar an meánscoil nua seo i bPort Laoise. Táimid ag súil le dul i mbun oibre le Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Laoise Uíbh Fháilí, eagraíocht a bhfuil clú orthu as sároideachas a chur ar fáil sa cheantar seo.”
“Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach don Fhoras go raibh mianta na dtúismitheoirí san áireamh mar chuid den phróiseas iomaíoch seo le pátrún a roghnú. Táimid an-sásta go gcuirfidh an scoil nua i bPort Laoise rogha ar fáil mar gur scoil comhoideachasúil agus ilchreidmheach a bheidh inti.”
“Is í an aidhm atá againn ná oideachas lán-Ghaeilge a chur ar fáil do gach páiste ar mian leo é a fháil. Cuirfidh an tAonad éagsúlacht ar fáil ó thaobh an éitis teanga agus beimid ag úsáid ár saineolas leis an Aonad a fhás ina Ghaelcholáiste neamhspleách faoi chomhphátrúnacht an dá eagraíocht.”
Críoch
Teagmháil: Sarah Harte / Laura Harmon DHR Communications, Teil: 087-9858259 / 086-1738455 / 01-4200580
- Tá Ard-Rúnaí An Foras Pátrúnachta, Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, ar fáil le haghaidh agallaimh ach é a iarraidh.
Maidir leis “An Foras Pátrúnachta”: Is pátrún náisiúnta é An Foras Pátrúnachta ar bhunscoileanna agus ar mheánscoileanna araon a bhfuil raon éitis spioradálta acu i.e. ilchreidmheach, idirchreidmheach nó caitliceach. Is é mar aidhm acu ná oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge a fhorbairt, a láidriú agus a chur chun cinn ar fud na tíre. www.foras.ie Lean An Foras Pátrúnachta ar Facebook agus Twitter.