Tá Coláiste Lurgan ón mbliain 2002 ag moladh go láidir gur cheart foirgneamh nua a thógáil ar shuíomh Choláiste Lurgan, an Cnoc, Indreabhán. Chuige seo tá Coláiste Lurgan ag tairiscint: • Aisíocaíochtaí ar 50% de chostas caipitil an fhoirnimh nua (circa. €3,000,000) a sheasamh thar thréimhse 20 bliain • Suíomh 0.6 acra atá taobh leis an gColáiste, a cheannaigh an Coláiste ar chostas €340,000 (móide €40,000 dleacht stampa agus €60,000 cáin chorparáideach ) a thabhairt in aisce don togra. • Tá €120,000 íoctha ag an gColáiste as cead tógála don fhoirgneamh a fháil ó Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe. • Úinéireacht agus mór-bhainistiú an fhoirgneamh a fhágáil faoi chomhlacht neamhbhrabúsach a bheadh faoi stiúir na neagraíochtaí a bheadh ag feidhmiú ón bhfoirgneamh chomh maith leis na heagraiochtaí stáit ata freagrach as cursaí Gaeltachta.
Is cúis díomá dom an neamhaird atá déanta don tairiscint seo agus airím nach bhfuil glactha dáiríre leis. Tá an iarracht dheiridh seo á dhéanamh anseo chun a chur ina luí ar na húdaráis atá freagrach as cúrsaí Gaeltachta, gur togra fiúntach indéanta atá á mholadh ag Coláiste Lurgan.
Mícheál Ó Foighil Bainisteoir Choláiste Lurgan
Cóip chuig: An Taoiseach Brian Ó Comhain. An tAire Oideachais Batt O’Keeffe. An tAire GPT agus Gaeltachta Éamonn Ó Cuív. An Seanadóir Deirdre de Búrca, urlabhraí Gaeltachta an Chomhaontais Ghlais. An Seanadóir Piarais Ó Dochartaigh, urlabhraí Gaeltachta agus Oideachais Pháirtí Shinn Féin. Dinny McGinley TD, urlabhraí Gaeltachta Páirtí Fhine Gael. Brian Ó Sé TD, urlabhraí Gaeltachta Páirtí an Lucht Oibre. Paul Gogarty TD, urlabhraí Oideachais an Chomhaontais Ghlais. Brian Hayes TD, urlabhraí Oideachais Pháirtí Fhine Gael. Ruairí Quinn TD, urlabhraí Oideachais Pháirtí an Lucht Oibre. Padraig Ó hAoláin, Príomh Fheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta. Garry Carney, Rúnaí na Roinne GPT agus Gaeltachta.
Tairiscint ó Choláiste Lurgan foirgneamh oideachasúil / cultúrtha / sóisialta a thógáil ar shuíomh an Chnoic.
Since 2002 the management of Coláiste Lurgan has strongly advocated the necessity of building new premises on the existing site. Coláiste Lurgan has offered the following towards this project: • To undertake to meet repayments of 50% of the capital costs of the building over 20 years. (circa. €4,500,000 on a €3,000,000 loan) • To give free of charge the 0.6 acre site adjacent the present site to the project. This site was purchased at a cost of €340,000 (plus €40,000 stamp duty and €60,000 corporation tax) by the Coláiste. • Colaiste Lurgan has obtained planning permission on the site at a cost of €120,000 • This new building would be owned and macro-managed by a new not for profit company. The board of directors of this company would be representative of organisations / groups operating from the building along with representation of state bodies with responsibility to Gaeltacht affairs. • Coláiste Lurgan is very receptive to the idea of sharing the facility with other proactive Irish language organisations
I am deeply disappointed at the lack of response from the state bodies who oversee Gaeltacht affairs to these proposals. This document is a final attempt to impress upon the relevant authorities with responsibilities to Gaeltacht affairs the viability and benefits of undertaking this project. I would ask all relevant politicians whose brief includes the teaching of Gaeilge / Gaeltacht affairs to consider the merits of the proposal contained in this document.
Mícheál Ó Foighil Bainisteoir Choláiste Lurgan
Cóip chuig: An Taoiseach Brian Ó Comhain. An tAire Oideachais Batt O’Keeffe. An tAire GPT agus Gaeltachta Éamonn Ó Cuív. An Seanadóir Deirdre de Búrca, urlabhraí Gaeltachta an Chomhaontais Ghlais. An Seanadóir Piarais Ó Dochartaigh, urlabhraí Gaeltachta agus Oideachais Pháirtí Shinn Féin. Dinny McGinley TD, urlabhraí Gaeltachta Páirtí Fhine Gael. Brian Ó Sé TD, urlabhraí Gaeltachta Páirtí an Lucht Oibre. Paul Gogarty TD, urlabhraí Oideachais an Chomhaontais Ghlais. Brian Hayes TD, urlabhraí Oideachais Pháirtí Fhine Gael. Ruairí Quinn TD, urlabhraí Oideachais Pháirtí an Lucht Oibre. Padraig Ó hAoláin, Príomh Fheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta. Garry Carney, Rúnaí na Roinne GPT agus Gaeltachta.
Tairiscint ó Choláiste Lurgan foirgneamh oideachasúil / cultúrtha / sóisialta a thógáil ar shuíomh an Chnoic.
An staid ina bhfuil togra don fhoirgneamh nua - Eanáir 2009.
I
n ainneoin an chúlú eacnamaíochta, tá éileamh níos mó ná riamh ar chúrsaí Gaeilge Choláiste Lurgan i mbliana. Mar a sheasann an scéal, tá os cionn 90% den 1,900 áit ar chúrsaí samhraidh na bliana seo curtha in áirithe ó dheireadh na míosa seo caite i.e. Eanáir 2009. 80% a bhí in áirithe an t-am seo anuraidh agus 50% an t-am seo i 2006.
T
á ár dtáillí cúrsaí coinnithe íseal d’aon turas againn, mar chuid dar bplean gnó. Tá plean gnó an Choláiste bunaithe ar €70- €80 an scoláire a chur i dtreo aisíocaíochtaí. (Táthar ag bailiú €40 an scoláire i dtreo aisíocaíochtaí ó 2004 agus fós tá na táillí an Choláiste, i gcóir 2009, ar an meán €70 níos saoire ná táillí chúrsaí Gaeilge i gColáistí Gaeilge eile i gConamara.) Fágann seo go mbeadh muid in ann suas le €80,000 breise in aghaidh na bliana a chur i dtreo aisíocaíochtaí d’fhoirgneamh nua. Is breis é an €80,000 seo ar an €80,000 in aghaidh na bliana atá á chur ar leataobh againn ó 2004 .
B
headh teacht isteach suntasach ó sholáthar lóistín sa bhfoirgneamh agus rachadh chuile bhrabach ón ngné seo i dtreo chiste an fhoirgnimh.
C
heannaigh Coláiste Lurgan suíomh 0.6 acra leis an airgead thuasluaite anuraidh. Tá an suíomh seo trasna na habhann ón gColáiste. Chosain an suíomh €340,000 agus íocadh €35,000 dleacht stampa air chomh maith. Beidh íoctha go hiomlán againn as an suíomh seo faoi dheireadh 2009. Níor cheart a dhearmad go níocann an Coláiste cáin chorparáideach ar na suimeanna airgid seo chomh maith.
Tairiscint ó Choláiste Lurgan foirgneamh oideachasúil / cultúrtha / sóisialta a thógáil ar shuíomh an Chnoic.
The Present State of New Building Development Project - January 2009
D
espite the present economic downturn, the demand for places on courses in Coláiste Lurgan is greater than ever. As things stand over 90% of the 1,900 places available are full since the end of January 2009. The percentage for this time last year was 80% and 50% for same in 2006.
A
s part of our business plan we have deliberately kept our fees low. Central to thus plan is putting €70-€80 per student towards repayments. (We have collected €40 per student for this purpose since 2004 and yet our fees are on average €70 cheaper than fees for Irish Courses in other Coláistí Gaeilge in Conamara.) This means we are well capable of raising a further annual sum of €80,000 towards repayments for a new building. This projected €80,00 is in addition the €80,000 a year we are already setting aside since 2004.
C
onsiderable income would be generated from the provision of accommodation in the building and all profit emanating from the accommodation aspect should be ring fenced for re-investment in the project.
C
oláiste Lurgan, purchased a site of 0.6 acres last year with this money. The site is situated across a river from the Coláiste. The site cost €340,000 plus stamp duty to the value of €35,000. This site will be fullypaid for by the end of 2009. Coláiste Lurgan also pays corporation tax on these sums of money. This site can be easily annexed to the main site via a footbridge across the river. While the site was not required to obtain planning permission it would however, provide much needed recreation space for the Coláiste.
Tairiscint ó Choláiste Lurgan foirgneamh oideachasúil / cultúrtha / sóisialta a thógáil ar shuíomh an Chnoic.
R
itear Coláiste Lurgan go han-éifeachtach ar chostas atá faoi bhun 8% de theacht isteach iomlán an Choláiste. Tá ceathrar fostaithe go lánaimseartha againn ar an gcostas seo. Níor íocadh stiúrthóirí riamh, ná níor íocadh aon díbhinn le scarshealbhóirí ach oiread. Infheistítear chuile bhrabach sa ngnó féin.
T
á dul chun cinn mór déanta ag an gColáiste i bhfoilsiú acmhainn foghlamtha idirghníomhach d’ardchaighdeán. Tá muid dóchasach go mbeidh an múnla foghlamtha atá á fhorbairt againn in úsáid go forleathan sa gcóras oideachais sul i bhfad.
F
ostaítear os cionn 110 duine go “lánaimseartha” le linn trí mhí an tsamhraidh agus caithtear 75% de theacht isteach an Choláiste ar thuarastail na ndaoine seo.
Tairiscint ó Choláiste Lurgan foirgneamh oideachasúil / cultúrtha / sóisialta a thógáil ar shuíomh an Chnoic.
C
oláiste Lurgan is very efficiently run, with administration costs of less than 8% of the total income of the Coláiste. Four full-time staff are employed at this cost. Neither directors nor shareholders have ever been paid a fee or a dividend. All profits have been continuously re-invested in the business. Coláiste Lurgan’s reputation is in a very healthy state and will continue to grow as long as our policy of re-investment is maintained.
W
e have invested heavily in time, effort and capital in developing a pioneering online programme titled Abair Leat! We are very confident that it will be successful and it is possible that it may be widely used throughout the education system. It is this type of initiative that will ensure the future viability of the Coláiste.
T
he Coláiste is a major local employer. 110 people are employed “full-time” during the three summer months and 75% of the Coláiste’s income goes towards their payment. Conservative estimations put the annual value of the Coláiste to the local economy at €3,000,000.
Tairiscint ó Choláiste Lurgan foirgneamh oideachasúil / cultúrtha / sóisialta a thógáil ar shuíomh an Chnoic.
A
r mholadh ón gColáiste, d’fhógair Údarás na Gaeltachta, i 2007, próiseas poiblí ag lorg aighneachtaí faoin gcaoi ar chóir suíomh an Chnoic a fhorbairt. Ag deireadh an phróisis sin ba é cinneadh an Údaráis ná tacú leis an gcur chuige a bhí molta ag Coláiste Lurgan. Fágann sé seo go bhfuil coinníoll ceangailte leis an suíomh. i.e. coinníoll cúrsaí Gaeilge a chur ar fáil ann.
T
á cead iomlan tógála faighte ag Coláiste Lurgan ó Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe, chun foirgneamh nua a thógáil ar an suíomh atá againn ar an gCnoc, in Indreabhán.Chaith an Coláiste €120,000 ar réiteach an iarratais seo.
Tá os cionn €300,000 bronnta ag Coláiste Lurgan ar an eagraíocht charthanachta GOAL ó 2002. Tá méadú ceadaithe don SIOPA GOAL a bheas sa bhfoirgneamh nua.
Tairiscint ó Choláiste Lurgan foirgneamh oideachasúil / cultúrtha / sóisialta a thógáil ar shuíomh an Chnoic.
A
t the instigation of Coláiste Lurgan Údarás na Gaeltachta in 2007, announced a public process requesting submissions on the best approach to developing this site. At the end of the process Údarás na Gaeltachta decided to support the approach put forward by Coláiste Lurgan. This means that a condition is now attached to the site, namely, that it must be used to provide Irish courses.
C
oláiste Lurgan has been granted full planning permission by Galway Co. Council to erect a new building on the site we have at An Cnoc, Indreabhán. Coláiste Lurgan spent €120,000 preparing this application.
S
ince 2002 Coláiste Lurgan has donated €300,000 to Goal.The new building has permission to house a much bigger SIOPA GOAL. This will enable us to greatly increase our annual contribution to GOAL
Tairiscint ó Choláiste Lurgan foirgneamh oideachasúil / cultúrtha / sóisialta a thógáil ar shuíomh an Chnoic.
Ceist – Cá seasfaidh muid i gceann cúig bliana?
A
n mbeidh foirgneamh nua tógtha faoin mbliain 2014, foirgneamh éiceolaíoch, dírithe ar riachtanais oideachasúla, sóisialta agus cultúrtha a bheadh in úsáid lá agus oíche, seacht lá na seachtaine, ó cheann ceann na bliana?
Cé a bhainfidh úsáid as an bhfoirgneamh?
R
eachtáilfidh Coláiste Lurgan cúrsaí sa bhfoirgneamh i rith na scoilbhliana chomh maith leis an samhradh. Beidh bunús 2,000 foghlaimeoir, sa mbreis ar an 2,000 a fhreastalaíonn go bliantúil anois, ag freastal ar chúrsaí. Is foghlaimeoirí fásta a bheas i bhformhór na bhfoghlaimeoirí breise seo.
C
é is moite de thréimhse tromúsáide an tsamhraidh, beidh dalladh spáis sa bhfoirgneamh do dhreamanna eile má theastaíonn uathu é a úsáid. Fáilteofar roimh eagraíochtaí / comhlachtaí oideachasúla / cultúrtha eile feidhmiú ón bhfoirgneamh. Beidh áiseanna den scoth sa bhfoirgneamh chun freastal orthu.
Tairiscint ó Choláiste Lurgan foirgneamh oideachasúil / cultúrtha / sóisialta a thógáil ar shuíomh an Chnoic.
Vision — What will our situation be in five years?
W
ill a new building be in place by 2014? The building we envisage will be a smart, sustainable, flexible building and will meet educational, social and cultural needs of those using it, day and night, seven days a week, from one end of the year to the other.
Who will use the building?
C
oláiste Lurgan will provide courses in the building throughout the academic year in addition to its summer courses. In addition to the 2,000 students who currently attend Coláiste Lurgan summer courses, an additional 2,000 students, mostly adults, will attend the new Coláiste. At current attendance figures the project would be just about financially viable (If the State provides 50% of the capital cost). When a much increased attendance is factored in the project becomes clearly sustainable.
A
part from the summer months, abundant space will be available to other community- based organisations wishing to avail of it. Educational or cultural organisations or groups will be especially welcomed and they will be able to avail of first class amenities.
Tairiscint ó Choláiste Lurgan foirgneamh oideachasúil / cultúrtha / sóisialta a thógáil ar shuíomh an Chnoic.
I
s féidir leas a bhaint as an bhfoirgneamh mar ionad eolais/ mínithe chun turasóirí a chur ar an eolas faoin nGaeilge agus faoi chultúr na Gaeltachta.
D
’fhéadfadh eagraíochtaí óige an cheantair a bheith lonnaithe sa bhfoirgneamh. Ceadaíonn dearadh agus leagan amach an fhoirgnimh spásanna oscailte chun caifé, bialann,7rl. a bheith ann, rud a chothódh gné láidir sóisialta san áit.
C
haithfeadh pé eagraíochtaí / daoine a bheadh ag úsáid na háite a chinntiú go mbeadh ról lárnach ag iompar teanga trí Ghaeilge ina gcuid gníomhaíochtaí.
Theastódh struchtúr bainistíochta ar a mbeadh ionadaíocht ag na heagraíochtaí agus na grúpaí éagsúla seo chomh maith le hionadaithe ó na heagraíochtaí Stáit ie. Údarás na Gaeltachta agus An Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta. Séard a thuigimse le struchtúr bainistíochta ná socrú agus feidhmiú na gcritéir agus na gcoinníollacha ba ghá a chomlíonadh maidir le húsáid an fhoirgnimh. Is í an ghné a bhaineann le hiompar teanga an ceann ba thábhachtaí a chur i bhfeidhm.
Tairiscint ó Choláiste Lurgan foirgneamh oideachasúil / cultúrtha / sóisialta a thógáil ar shuíomh an Chnoic.
T
here is no information / interpretive centre for the language or Gaeltacht heritage. There is a niche for such a centre. This building can hold such a display as it has the space and room on the basement level. This area would be suitable to house audio-visual interactive displays.
T
he local youth organisations could be comfortably accommodated in the building. The design of the building provides ample social spaces along with room to house a café/restaurant. These features would add considerably to the social dimension of the project.
A
ll users of the building would need to ensure the centrality of the Irish language in their activities.
A macro-management structure would need to be in place representing all user groups along with state agencies i.e. n Roinn na Gaeltachta and Údarás na Gaeltachta. The management structure would be responsible for the drawing up and implementation of the criteria and conditions pertainig to the use of the building. The role of the Irish language should be to the fore and central in this context.
Tairiscint ó Choláiste Lurgan foirgneamh oideachasúil / cultúrtha / sóisialta a thógáil ar shuíomh an Chnoic.
Cén chaoi leis an bhfís seo a chur i gcrích?
B
a ghá comhlacht neamhbhrabúsach a bhunú a ghlacfadh úinéireacht ar an bhfoirgneamh.
Bheadh stiúrthóireacht/stiúradh an chomhlachta seo faoi eagraíochtaí ar leith, ina measc, Coláiste Lurgan, Údarás na Gaeltachta, An Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, ionadaithe na n-eagraíochtaí a bheadh ag feidhmiú ón bhfoirgneamh, ionadaithe ó eagraíochtaí áitiúla 7rl..
G
hlacfadh Coláiste Lurgan freagracht as aisíoc 50 % de chostas caipitil an fhoirgnimh ar choinníoll go seasfadh an Stát an 50% eile. Is leis an Stát suíomh an Chnoic agus tá Coláiste Lurgan sásta an 0.6 acra atá ceannaithe againn a chur leis an suíomh saor in aisce, ar choinníoll go gcuirfidh an Stát suíomh an Chnoic ar fáil amhlaidh. Tá costas imlíneach de €6,000,000 luaite leis an bhfoirgneamh. Is am an-fhábharach é seo tabhairt faoi thógáil foirgnimh toisc rátaí úis agus praghasanna tógála a bheith íseal. Bheadh teacht isteach suntasach ó sholáthar lóistín sa bhfoirgneamh agus rachadh chuile bhrabach ón ngné seo i dtreo chiste an fhoirgnimh. Tá sé ag tarraingt ar cheithre bliana ó thug mé an chéad dréacht (doiciméad 40 leathanach) faoin togra seo d’Aire GPT agus Gaeltachta. Is oth liom a rá go bhfuil mé fós ag fanacht ar fhreagra d’aon chinéal ar ais uaidh.
Tairiscint ó Choláiste Lurgan foirgneamh oideachasúil / cultúrtha / sóisialta a thógáil ar shuíomh an Chnoic.
How can this vision be implemented?
A
non-profit company would need be set up to take ownership of the building. The board of directors of this company would be representative of all main user groups along with state bodies with responsibilities to Gaeltacht affairs.
C
oláiste Lurgan will undertake to repay 50% of the capital cost of the building provided the State provides the other 50%.
The state is the owner of the site at An Cnoc and Coláiste Lurgan is prepared to make available, free of charge, the 0.6 acre it has acquired beside that site, provided the state makes the site at An Cnoc available free of charge. The estimated outline cost of the building is €6,000,000.
T
his is an opportune time to embark on a building given that costs and interest rates are low.
Considerable income would be generated from the provision of accommodation in the building and all profit emanating from the accommodation aspect should be ring fenced for re-investment in the project. It is almost four years now since I submitted the first draft (c.40 pages) of this project to An tAire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta and I regret to say I have not yet received any response
Tairiscint ó Choláiste Lurgan foirgneamh oideachasúil / cultúrtha / sóisialta a thógáil ar shuíomh an Chnoic.
Céard í an fhadhb leis na Ranna Stáit? Is é mo thuairim go bhfuil dísbheagadh déanta ag na Ranna Stáit ar obair na gColáistí Gaeilge le roinnt mhaith blianta. Cruthú ar seo is ea an gearradh iomlán a rinneadh ar an tacaíocht airgid a bhí ar fáil do Choláistí Gaeilge ón Stát sa mbuiséad deireadh. Bhí an tacaíocht seo míréalaíoch ón tús agus ní dhearna sé difear dá laghad do chúrsaí nuair a gearradh é. Feictear dom nach bhfuil mórán tuisceana ag eagraíochtaí stáit ar láidreachtaí, laigeachtaí, easnaimh agus féidearthachtaí Choláistí Gaeilge na Gaeltachta. Feictear dom freisin go dtugann na ranna stáit an chluas bhodhar do thuairimí daoine atá ag obair ar an talamh. Tá tairiscint an-fhial, gan tosaíocht, déanta ag Coláiste Lurgan mar go gcreideann muid gurb é ár ndualgas an tseirbhís agus na háiseanna is fearr is féidir a chur ar fáil dár gcuid scoláirí. Tá sé thar am breathnú go dáiríre ar thairiscint Choláiste Lurgan in áit a bheith dar gcur ó dhoras na Roinne Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta go doras an Údaráis agus ar ais arís. Mar fhocal scoir, tá an méid is féidir le Coláiste Lurgan a dhéanamh chun an togra seo a chur chun cinn déanta againne. Mura n-éiríonn leis, is de bharr neamhshuim na n-údarás stát ann a tharlóidh sin.
Tairiscint ó Choláiste Lurgan foirgneamh oideachasúil / cultúrtha / sóisialta a thógáil ar shuíomh an Chnoic.
What is the problem with the State Departments? It is my view that Coláistí Gaeilge located in Gaeltacht areas have been poorly treated by State Departments over the last 10 years. There was a drop of 80% in real terms in the state support for Coláistí Gaeilge in the Gaeltacht over this period. I cannot think of any other sector that was treated likewise during the so called “boom years”. However, the total suspension of state support for Colaistí Gaeilge in last years budget must be viewed in context of other more critical cuts that were made in the education sector. When comparing like with like, the daily workload in the Coláiste is at least double that of a typical secondary school while our budget allocation per capita would be less than a third of what a secondary school would have. Due to the nature of the work involved in meeting the many requirements in providing a high quality / safe learning environment for young people who are away from home, we have to work with a range of state departments. There are many ways other than financial help where the work of Colaistí Gaeilge can be supported by state departments. A good start would be to listen to the opinions of people working on the ground. Coláiste Lurgan has made a most generous and unprecedented offer relating to this building because we believe we have an obligation to provide the best possible services and amenities to our students. It is high time this offer be afforded due consideration rather than being shuffled about from An Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta to Údarás na Gaeltachta and back again. In conclusion, Coláiste Lurgan has done all it could to advance this project. If it does not succeed it will be because of the disinterest of state bodies
Tairiscint ó Choláiste Lurgan foirgneamh oideachasúil / cultúrtha / sóisialta a thógáil ar shuíomh an Chnoic.