Statutory status for Naíscoil na Daróige would be ‘significant’ as Irish school approaches 20th anniversary

Fiachra Ó Donghaile, was speaking after the Board of Governors of the Ballymagroarty school submitted a Development Proposal for the unit to the Education Authority.

The proposal is for ‘a statutory nursery unit [to] be established at Gaelscoil na Daróige to provide 26 part-time nursery places with effect from September 1, 2023, or as soon as possible thereafter’.

Mr. Ó Donghaile said: “Statutory status is crucial in our case and would further augment the already excellent provision. It would secure the current optimum teacher-led environment for the future to allow our children to continue to reach their full potential.

"It would ensure wider access to various EA services for our children. The longer session will further increase learning and language acquisition. Essentially, statutory status will allow access to resources and services currently available to their peers in other statutory settings.”

Naíscoil na Daróige, the nursery, is now operating at full capacity again after the impact of Covid.

“The public is becoming increasingly aware of the many benefits of Irish Medium Education and many people want their children to be bilingual,” said local activist and current Naíscoil chairperson Mary Durkan.

“Statutory status would be a significant step, and the perfect way to celebrate, as we approach twenty years of IME in the Ballymagroarty area.”

“We have built many links with the community and with other schools over the years,” added Fiachra, “and we appreciate all the support we have received as we apply for statutory status.”

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