Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn   …ár Scoil nua.

1. Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn was founded in 1993 and has been located in prefabricated buildings beside the Tank Field since 1998.

2. In 2011 Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn was granted full planning permission to build a school on the site as marked out below.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

3. Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn is a multi-denominational Gaelscoil under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta and also affiliated to Educate Together. The ethos of Educate Together schools is that their schools should be multi-denominational, co-educational, child-centred and democratically run. The ethos of Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn is aligned with national policy to support inclusion and diversity in the way our school is run.

4. Due to its unique status as both a Gaelscoil and a multi-denominational school, Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn attracts increasing numbers of students from the area. Currently, 313 students are enrolled, 79% of whom come from within 1.5 miles of the school. Over the years, over 1000 students have received their primary education in our school, representing over 500 families. This year, we are celebrating our 20th anniversary, culminating in a week-long celebration from March 17^th. As part of our celebrations, we have invited past pupils from over the years to our festivities.

5. Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn has received permission from An Bord Pleanála to build a new school on the adjacent Tank Field. This site has been identified as the best site for our new school since 2002. The Department of Education has identified this site alone as the site for our school and listed our school for development in its 2013 school building programme. The site comprises of 2 acres of an 11 acre site. The Bord Pleanála report stated:

‘……having regard to the existing uses of the overall land, to the need for improved educational facilities, the need to replace temporary schoolroom accommodation and noting that the proposed development does not involve loss of any playing pitches….the proposed development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of the property in the vicinity….’.

6. Cork City Council voted unanimously in March 2005 to sell this site to the Department of Education and later to allow Brian Dillon’s pitches to move eastwards to facilitate the construction of the school. In 2007, a majority of the council voted to permit the building of a new school on the site. As the necessary 2/3 majority was not achieved, planning permission was granted after an appeal by the Department of Education to An Bord Pleanála. 

7. Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn is located in unsuitable temporary premises. The classrooms are small, the facilities are cramped and the car park of the adjacent Brian Dillon’s GAA club doubles up as the schoolyard.

8. An action brought by some residents seeking a declaration of a public right of way over parts of the Tank Field, which, had it been successful, may have blocked the development of the school, failed at Cork Circuit Court after a lengthy hearing in 2012. Judge Ó Donnabháin’s decision removed any legal impediment to the development of the school on the Tank Field.

9. The development of our much-needed school is GOVERNMENT POLICY, has PLANNING APPROVAL at the highest level by AN BORD PLEANÁLA and attempts at the Circuit Court to hinder its development through establishment of a right of way FAILED.

10. The new school will bring enormous benefits to students and their families, not just now, but for future generations. As an educational facility providing Irish- medium education within a multi-denominational ethos, it is already an asset to the local community.

11. To satisfy the implementation of the planning permission, the completion of a compulsory purchase order in respect of two narrow strips of land needs to take effect. This process should be completed by the end of 2014.

12. Those who object to the development of a new school claim they are not against our school. Their actions say otherwise- they have objected to the planning permission of the school even in the prefabs; they have objected to much-needed new prefabs to accommodate enrolled children; they have referred the school to the Fire Officer and to various authorities for perceived infringements of planning regulations; they have erected posters at the driveway entrance to the school. Those in favour of the school greatly outnumber those that are opposed. The views, needs and interests of local children and parents have never been represented by those who object. Based on their actions, one can only conclude that they wish the school, temporary or permanent, to be anywhere else.

13. The tender process for our new school started in mid-February 2015. It is hoped that we will be in our new school in 2016

Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn

20 Bliain ag Fás!