21 May 1998 Edition
Help fund Irish schools
By Ned Kelly
Tuesday 19 May saw the launch of a patronage scheme to help fund the shortfall that exists in state funding for Irish medium education. Launched by Gaeloiliuint, the Earlamh scheme aims to encourage friends of Irish medium education, Irish culture enthusiasts, those employed in Irish medium jobs and people with a concern for the equality agenda to give a small monthly donation towards combating this shortfall.
The scheme aims to help fund Irish schools that currently receive no state funding during their start-up phase and to cover running costs until they become established; a short fall of over £200,000 per year. The scheme aims to meet the need of six schools immediately - Primary or Naiscoileanna in Coalisland, Strabane, Dunloy, Downpatrick and Castlewellan. They are currently impelled to reach a criteria equivalent to the Integrated sector, of 25 new places every year before state funding is awarded. For the secondary or meanscoil in Derry the criteria calls for 80 places to be filled every year.
Cathal O'Donghaile from Gaeloiliuint stressed the forward momentum of the entire Irish culture movement. O'Donghaile spoke of his dream - ``to see a naiscoil on the Shankill''.
In the long term he said that Gaeloiliuint intended to provide funding for Irish medium nursery education which currently receives no state funding for its 30 plus schools, representing a shortfall of almost £300,000. He also said, ``a donation account will shortly be set up with a US bank in Boston under the auspices of `The Gael Foundation' that will also administer the funds generated by the scheme in Ireland''.
Tuesday 19 May saw the launch of a patronage scheme to help fund the shortfall that exists in state funding for Irish medium education. Launched by Gaeloiliuint, the Earlamh scheme aims to encourage friends of Irish medium education, Irish culture enthusiasts, those employed in Irish medium jobs and people with a concern for the equality agenda to give a small monthly donation towards combating this shortfall.
The scheme aims to help fund Irish schools that currently receive no state funding during their start-up phase and to cover running costs until they become established; a short fall of over £200,000 per year. The scheme aims to meet the need of six schools immediately - Primary or Naiscoileanna in Coalisland, Strabane, Dunloy, Downpatrick and Castlewellan. They are currently impelled to reach a criteria equivalent to the Integrated sector, of 25 new places every year before state funding is awarded. For the secondary or meanscoil in Derry the criteria calls for 80 places to be filled every year.
Cathal O'Donghaile from Gaeloiliuint stressed the forward momentum of the entire Irish culture movement. O'Donghaile spoke of his dream - ``to see a naiscoil on the Shankill''.
In the long term he said that Gaeloiliuint intended to provide funding for Irish medium nursery education which currently receives no state funding for its 30 plus schools, representing a shortfall of almost £300,000. He also said, ``a donation account will shortly be set up with a US bank in Boston under the auspices of `The Gael Foundation' that will also administer the funds generated by the scheme in Ireland''.