Minister agrees proposal to establish a nursery unit at Gaelscoil Na Móna, Belfast

Education Minister, John O'Dowd, has approved a development proposal for the establishment of a 26 part-time place statutory nursery unit at Gaelscoil na Móna, Belfast, with a modified date of 31 August 2016.

Mr O’Dowd commented:

“Children’s proficiency in Irish is assisted greatly by education through that medium from the pre-school stage, and I have decided to approve this proposal. My approval is in line with my statutory duty to encourage and facilitate the development of Irish-medium education.

 The voluntary playgroup Naíscoil na Móna will close to make way for the new statutory unit.  I am confident that the establishment of the unit is in the best interest of pupils in this area wishing to avail of Irish-medium provision.” 

Notes to editors: 

1. On 2 April 2015, the Education Authority (EA) published DP 226 on behalf of the Board of Governors of Gaelscoil na Móna. The proposal aimed to establish a 26 part-time place co-educational statutory nursery unit at Gaelscoil na Móna (Monagh Link) with effect from 1 September 2015 or as soon as possible thereafter.  The two month statutory objection period for this proposal commenced on the date of publication and ended on 2 June 2015.
2. The published notice also referred to a proposed change of pre-school status from voluntary to statutory. However, there is no legal facility for a funded voluntary pre-school provider to change its status to a statutory nursery unit. Therefore the consequence of the establishment of a statutory unit at Gaelscoil na Móna is the closure of the associated voluntary pre-school Naíscoil na Móna.
3. Naiscoil Na Mona is registered with the Health and Social Care Trust for 24 pre-school places. In the last 3 years parental demand for places in this setting has not reached 26 - the number of places proposed in DP 226.
4. To meet the Programme for Government commitment, the regions of the Education Authority (EA), in conjunction with DE, plan to provide sufficient pre-school provision in local areas to meet demand for places:  planning is on the basis of 95% of target age children across the north of Ireland; This proposal will increase the level of pre-school Irish medium provision to 118.2% within a 1-mile radius and 118.4% within a 2-mile radius of Gaelscoil na Móna.
5. The Department of Education’s ‘Education Works’ campaign promotes the value of education. This year’s campaign aims to ensure that parents have information on schooling and that they are aware of the steps they can take to ‘Get Involved’ and support their teenager in achieving good outcomes at school. Watch out for the ads on television, radio and outdoor locations. The campaign highlights the vital role families can play in helping children do well at school and improve their life chances. Visit nidirect for more information or watch the TV ad on the Department’s YouTube channel 
6. See photos from the Department of Education in our Flickr collection 
7. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office Tel: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours, contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 99 715 440, and your call will be returned.

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