The Education Minister in the Northern Ireland government, Caitriona Ruane, has approved funding for four Irish-medium schools. The Minister said the new schools were scheduled to open in September and reflect a demand from parents for education through Irish.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Minister said; “The Department of Education has a statutory duty to encourage and facilitate the development of Irish-medium education.” She added; “I am therefore giving these four new schools conditional approval because I believe they will ensure that the choice of primary education through the medium of Irish is available to a growing number of children.”
The new schools are Gaelscoil an tSeanchaí in Magherafelt; Gaelscoil na mBeann, in Kilkeel; Gaelscoil Léim an Mhadaidh, in Limavady and Gaelscoil Choin Rí Uladh, in Ballymena.
The schools announcement provoked the usual carping and criticism from some Unionist political figures.
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information Celtic League
29/07/10
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