Quinn to respond to religious on handing over of properties [IrishTimes]
- Published: 04 July 2011
MINISTER FOR Education Ruairí Quinn is to make an announcement within days responding to proposals from 18 religious congregations named in the Ryan report concerning their handing over of properties,including educational facilities.
The Department of Education confirmed last April that it was to ask the congregations to hand over title to properties worth up to € 200 million.
Since publication in May 2009 of the Ryan report, which contains the findings of an investigation into clerical sex abuse of children in religious-run residential institutions, the 18 congregations have agreed to pay €476 million towards the €1.36 billion compensation costs.
As this was € 200 million short of the equal share of the bill to be paid by the State, as recommended in the Ryan report, proposals for the remaining payment were sought from the congregations.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Getting kids to school is up to parents, not the State [Independent.ie]
- Published: 03 July 2011
The announcement of proposed changes to the School Transport Scheme (STS) has, unsurprisingly, been followed by a wave of parental indignation. School transport that had previously been provided 'free' (cost to the State, €1m per day) will now be charged at €50 per primary-school child (up to a maximum of €110 per family) and the cost for secondary-school children will peak at €650 per family, per year. Of even more concern to parents is the fact that up to 150 routes which service less than 10 children will be abolished and the distance criteria of two miles will be applied nationally.
Stories such as that of Kate Brosnan (Irish Independent, June 27), a mother of two who says she must either fork out up to €400 for her children's travel or leave her job, have been circulating all week.
On top of all the other 'stealth' charges and taxes with which we've been hit, one would have to have a heart of Thatcherite steel not to be sympathetic to some parents who will now have to make their own arrangements to deliver their children to school.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
The growth of Educate Together in Dublin 15 [communityvoice.ie]
- Published: 01 July 2011
September will mark the opening of two new primary schools in Dublin 15 – both under the patronage of the Educate Together movement.
The schools, one designated for Mulhuddart and one for “Blanchardstown West,” were first announced earlier this year and following the appointment of Educate Together as patrons, a frantic race against time has begun to have them fully operational for the next school year after the summer. As is usually the case these days, both schools will initially operate out of temporary premises.
Powerstown Educate Together National School (ETNS) will be based in the prefab premises of Tyrrelstown ETNS on Powerstown Road, which they will be vacating in August for their new school building in the area. The second school, Blanchardstown West ETNS will initially operate out of the old pre-fabs at Mary Mother of Hope NS in Castaheany – home to many start up schools over the past decade.
Full Story: www.communityvoice.ie
Mallow to get new school to cater for growing population [corkman.ie]
- Published: 30 June 2011
MALLOW is to get a new national school under a government plan aimed at managing projected population increases over the coming years.
The Mallow school is one of six to be provided in Cork under the plan that will see a total of 40 new primary and post-primary schools built across the country over the next six years.
The need for a new national school in Mallow has long been flagged, with projections pointing to a sharp increase in the population of the town up to the year 2020.
Figures contained within the draft Mallow Electoral Area Local Area Plan released in November of last year, showed that the population of the town rose from 8,937 in 2002 to 10,241 in 2006, an increase of 15%.
The report went on to point out that the targets for population growth under the Cork Area Strategic Plan (CASP), indicated that this would almost double to 20,000 by the year 2020.
Full Story: www.corkman.ie
Twists and turns of new labyrinth to benefit St Anne’s pupils [clarechampion.ie]
- Published: 30 June 2011
THE children of St Anne’s School were ‘a-mazed’ this week at the launch of their very own garden labyrinth. The garden project has seen the creation of a labyrinth at the school, with principal Caroline Lodge saying that this will be of great benefit to the children.
“At St Anne’s School, we are very lucky to have the outdoor space to develop a project such as the children’s labyrinth. We already have an extensive multi-sensory playground and are seeking to develop the school grounds to meet the needs of our pupils. We like to involve the pupils and parents in gardening projects throughout the year and the labyrinth will provide us with a magical and unique area for the children to benefit from,” she explained.
She added that a labyrinth is an ancient pattern that has been found throughout the world in many forms and sizes. They are different from mazes, as there is only one path that leads to the centre and back out again. “Our children are already enjoying walking and running the labyrinth and we look forward to watching the plants grow and develop,” said the principal.
Full Story: www.clarechampion.ie
