Cá bhFuil Ár Scoil?
Chuaigh múinteoirí, teaghlaigh agus tacadóirí le páistí ó Scoil na Fuiseoige in iarthar Bhéal Feirste inné [Dé Luain] chuig agóid ag Stormont faoin diúltú leanúnach d’áiseanna scoile cuí.
Bhí imeachtaí ar siúl ag na páistí ar fhearann riarachán coilíneach na Breataine ag ceiliúradh na n-éachtaí s’acu le ocht mbliana déag anuas i gcoinníollacha atá ag dul in olcas agus atá cáinte ag sraith cigireachta.
Bunaíodh Scoil na Fuiseoige i gCill Uaighe i mBéal Feirste in 1992, ag glacadh inspioráide ón stailceoir ocrais agus díograiseoir Gaeilge, Bobby Sands, a raibh cónaí air i gCill Uaighe. Lonnaithe ar dtús i mbotháin shoghluaiste, nuair a bhain an scoil aitheantas oifigiúil amach in 1997 rinne roinn oideachais na Sé Chondae, faoi aire riail dírí na Breataine an tráth sin, rinne siad plean chun foirgneamh ceart scoile a thógáil a bheadh oiriúnach don fheidhm.
In 2005, chuir roinn oideachais na Sé Chondae, arís faoi aire riail dírí na Breataine, chuir siad an scoil isteach ina gclár Capital New Starts, rud ar chóir go gcinnteodh tógáil áiseanna nua-aimseartha. Inniu áfach, trí bliana déag ónar tugadh an gealltanas, tá glúin reatha na ndaltaí i Scoil na Fuiseoige go fóill sna botháin chéanna.
Iad as a ndóchas mar gheall ar an easpa dul chun cinn ar an cheist, chuaigh ionadaithe na scoile i dteagmháil le haire oideachais Stormont reatha, Caitríona Ruane, agus sa deireadh fuair siad dearbhú uaithi go mbeadh an obair déanta agus críochnaithe faoi thús na scoilbhliana seo caite, Meán Fómhair 2009.
Déardaoin seo caite [24ú Meitheamh], fuair an scoil amach gur cuireadh an tógáil ar an mhéar fhada arís eile. Ag trácht ar an scéal seo, dúirt an príomhoide Eilís Uí Néill: “Is maolaisnéis ollmhór í a rá go bhfuil tógáil nua ina riachtanas soiléir dúinn. Tá an foirgneamh reatha ag titim anuas orainn. Is guais sláinte agus sábháilteachta é. Níl na botháin shoghluaiste oiriúnach don fheidhm. Níor chóir go mbeadh ar dhuine ar bith fulaingt faoi gach ar fhulaing muidne le breis agus deich mbliana anuas. Tá sé doghlactha.”
Lean Uí Néill: “Tá an cinneadh gan dul ar aghaidh le tógáil nua Scoil na Fuiseoige in ainneoin ghealltanais fhadtréimhseacha an Roinn Oideachais ina bhuille uafásach don phobal scoile ina iomláine.”
Dúirt urlabhraí Gaeilge Éirígí Ursula Ní Shionnain: “Ar dtús, ní mór an fhoireann go léir ag Scoil na Fuiseoige a mholadh as an dea-obair atá déanta acu le beagnach fiche bliain anois ag soláthar ardchaighdeán Gaeloideachais i gcoinníollacha fíordheacra.
“Tá Cill Uaighe ar na ceantair is díothaithe ar fud na Sé Chondae, a rinne rialtas na Breataine agus comhairle aontachtach Lios na gCearrbhach leatrom air le fada an lá. Tá roinn oideachais Stormont ag leanúint leis an pholasaí náireach sin inniu.
“Ní beag an tionchar dearfach atá ag Scoil na Fuiseoige, agus an naíscoil agus ionadh teaghlaigh tadhlacha, ar an cheantar. Éilíonn cumas na Gaelscoile freastal ar an phobal áitiúil ar bhealach níos cumsithí trí thógáil áiseanna cuí go dtéann an tógáil ríthábhachtach seo ar aghaidh.”
Lean Ní Shionnain: “Mura ndéantar an obair san am amach romhainn, beidh na páistí ag dul isteach sa scoil don chéad uair an Meán Fómhair beag seo daortha chuig na botháin lofa chéanna a fhad agus atá siad ag freastal ar an scoil.
“Caithfear brú a chur ar roinn oideachais Stormont glacadh le ciall ar an cheist, agus tábhacht infheistíochta i dtodhchaí ár bpáistí a aithint.”
- English version below -
Children from Scoil na Fuiseoige in west Belfast were joined by teachers, families and supporters yesterday [Monday] for a protest at Stormont over the continued denial of proper school facilities.
The children held a number of events on the grounds of Britain’s colonial administration celebrating their achievements over the past 18 years in deteriorating conditions that have been condemned by a series of inspections.
Scoil na Fuiseoige was established in the Twinbrook area of Belfast in 1992, taking its inspiration from former Twinbrook resident, hunger striker and Irish language enthusiast Bobby Sands. Having initially been based in prefab mobile huts, when the school achieved official recognition in 1997 a plan was drawn up at the Six County education department, then under a British direct rule minister, to build a proper school building that would be fit for purpose.
In 2005, the Six County Department of Education, again under a British direct rule minister, included the school in its Capital New Starts programme, which should have ensured the construction of modern facilities. Today, however, 13 years since the commitment was given, the current generation of pupils at Scoil na Fuiseoige are still in the same mobile huts.
Frustrated by the lack of progress on the issue, representatives of the school contacted current Stormont education minister Caitríona Ruane and eventually received assurances from her that the work would be done and completed by the beginning of the last school year, September 2009.
Last Thursday [June 24], the school found out that the new build had been indefinitely postponed yet again. Commenting on this news, principal Eilís Uí Néill said: “To say that we have a demonstrated need for a new build is a massive understatement. The current building is literally collapsing around us. It is a health and safety hazard. The portable cabins are not fit for purpose. No one should have to endure what we have had to put up with for the past decade and more. It is not acceptable.
Uí Néill continued: “The decision not to go forward with Scoil na Fuiseoige’s new build despite the Department of Education’s long standing commitments and promises is a devastating blow to our whole school community.”
Éirígí Irish language spokesperson Ursula Ní Shionnain said: “Firstly, all the staff at Scoil na Fuiseoige must be commended for the good work they have done for almost 20 years now in providing a high standard of Irish medium education in very difficult circumstances.
“Twinbrook is one of the most deprived areas in the whole of the Six Counties, having been discriminated against for far too long by the British government and the unionist Lisburn council. The Stormont department of education is today continuing with that shameful policy.
“Scoil na Fuiseoige, and the adjoining naíscoil and family centre, have had an enormously positive impact on the area. The potential of the Gaelscoil to serve the local community more fully through the construction of proper facilities demands that this vitally important construction go ahead.”
Ní Shionnain continued: “If the work is not done in the near future, then the children entering the scoil for the first time this coming September will be condemned to the same rotting mobiles as long as they attend the school.
“Pressure must be brought to bear on the Stormont education department to see sense on the issue, and to recognise the importance of investment in our children’s futures.”