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6th September 2016 • Volume 23, Issue 30 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. K67 P5W4. • Tel: 01 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie • www.northcountyleader.ie
Balbriggan Top Of The Class Balbriggan was at the centre of all things good on the educational front last week, with the opening of a new secondary schools, Bremore Educate Together Secondary School and the opening of a new state of the art, Coláiste Ghlór na Mara. Both are located beside each other off Naul Road. Bremore is the first second level Educate Together school to open in the North County, while Coláiste Ghlór na Mara was the first second level Gaelscoil to open in the North County two years ago. It is expected that Bremore ETSS will relocate across the road to a new school building next year. Bremore ETSS opened its doors on Monday, 29th August, with Ghlór na Mara following on Thursday, 1st September. Educate Together CEO, Paul Rowe was very excited about the opening of Bremore ETSS. He
By Patrick Finnegan told the County Leader, “This is a huge step forward for the very large number of parents who send their children to Educate Together national schools. We have two very large Educate Together National Schools here in Balbriggan and we’re absolutely delighted to be able to provide a really excellent child centred ethical educational environment for the secondary education of the children. We’re very impressed by the high quality team that have come to work here in the school. This will be a pathfinding, innovative secondary school and it is really going to serve the people of Balbriggan for a very long time to come,” he said. School principal, Kathy Jones said, “This is a really exciting day and we are the first school of its kind to open in North County Dublin. It will be great for the area because the parents have been campaigning for a very long time for this school, which is a natural feed on for the two national schools in the town. It puts Balbriggan
Pictured at the opening of the new Coláiste Ghlór na Mara in Balbriggan on Thursday, 1st September are, Sean Ó Puirséil, Jamie Ó Dufaigh, Aoife Elster (school principal), Bláithín Uí Dhálaigh (teacher), Shauna Níc Uillín, Kayleigh Ní Chairlleáin and Aoife Ní Chaollaí
on the map and with a lot of building in the area, we can showcase what Balbriggan has to offer. Parents and students can be proud to come to this school, as we strive to develop independent learners and challenge the style of teaching that is out there. School should be fun and safe and we’re thrilled with the support we have received to date,” she said. There was equal excitement at nearby Coláiste Ghlór na Mara, when they took charge of a state-of-the-art brand new secondary school last Thursday.
Postponement Of Industrial Action At Oberstown The proposed industrial action by staff at the troubled Oberstown Children Detention Campus near Lusk has been postponed. Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone has welcomed the postponement of the proposed industrial action and talks are due to resume between the representatives of staff unions and management. These will take place under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. The postponement of the industrial action will mean that the daily routine of the Campus will continue with children attending at school as normal. The Board of Management at the Oberstown held an extraordinary meeting in the wake
of a number of disturbing incidents at the centre. A member of staff was injured and a rooftop fire broke out at the facility last week. The board has also said they are anxious to find a permanent solution to the industrial relations matters at the Centre. The board had requested unions and the centre’s management to return to discussions at the Workplace Relations Commission in an effort to end the dispute, which now appears to have borne fruit. Local TD, Brendan Ryan (Lab) who lives near the centre told the County Leader about the worries that locals have about Oberstown. “There is growing concern that the operation of the juvenile detention centre in Oberstown is in need of increased resources from
central Government in order to allow the staff perform their duty in a safe manner.” “The impact of the current situation is hitting staff, management and the local community in North County Dublin as serious incidences of violence against staff are leading to, among other things, staff injuries and break outs of detainees.” He continued, “In 2015 there were over 100 serious incidences against 65 staff members, resulting in a total of 3000 working days lost to sick leave. It is a situation, which cannot continue. Recent breakouts are having an impact on the local rural community. I have been contacted by elderly residents who are afraid to answer the door at night,” he said Continued on page 16
The 1,000 pupil, multi-denominational secondary school, where Irish is the primary language used, is equipped with a full range of both practical and academic facilities. There is also a special education unit, including a sensory garden and butterfly garden. Continued on page 12