Dundalk Gaelcholáiste students could have to travel to Dublin to do State exams

The Gaelcholáiste in Dundalk has not received an exam centre number from the State Examinations Commission so students sitting Leaving and Junior Certs this summer may have to travel to Dublin, Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has told the Dáil.

Speaking in Irish, the Sinn Féin TD raised the issue with Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton last week.

He said the school had not received an exam centre number from the SEC and are concerned that students sitting State exams this summer would have to travel to Coláiste Ghlór na Mara in Balbriggan.

Deputy Ó Murchú said: “There is a particular issue with the Gaelcholáiste. It is trying to grow its numbers. It is a project to try to grow a Gaelcholáiste at secondary level in Dundalk through Irish and it really needs facilitation in relation to transport.

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“The answer at the minute from the Department of Education is not good enough. An exam number is needed so people do not have to travel to Balbriggan to do the State exams”.

In response, Minister Naughton said: “My Department and the Government are absolutely committed to expanding the number of Gaelcholáistí and Gaelscoileanna across the country.

“The task force in undergoing work in relation to this. I will keep Members updated.

“I am absolutely in support of the need to expand this and where schools need to be upgraded as part of our NDP, the Department will engage directly with those schools, particularly with the energy and condition surveys that are happening throughout this year”.