Pupil numbers down at city Irishsecondary but up at primaries

Releasing statistics for enrolments to all Irish medium schools across Northern Ireland the Minister indicated that the enrolment at Bunscoil Cholmcille fell each year between 2010/11 and 2014/15.

The number of pupils at the local Irish language secondary decreased from 142 in 2010/11; to 126 in 2011/12; to 123 in 2012/13; to 117 in 2013/14; and to 114 in 2014/15.

Amongst local Irish language primary schools, however, the enrolment picture was much healthier. At all such schools in the North West the number of pupils either increased or dipped moderately.

Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir in the Brandywell was the only Irish primary were the enrolment was down but this was moderately from 149 pupils five years ago to 138 pupils in 2014/15.

But at all the other local Irish language primary schools across Londonderry, Limavady and Strabane enrolments were up.

At Gaelscoil na Daróige in Ballymagroarty, for example, enrolments were up from 44 to 60 over the same five year period. And at two of Northern Ireland’s newest Irish language primary schools figures for the full five years were not available because of the schools’ novelty.

However, enrolments were up at both of the schools, which are both located in the wider Roe Valley area.

At Gaelscoil Léim an Mhadaidh in Limavady the enrolment grew every year from 18 in 2011/12 to 53 in 2014/15.

And at Gaelscoil Neachtain in Dungiven the enrolment grew every year from 63 in 2012/13 to 77 in 2014/15.

At Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh in Strabane the enrolment was also up from 153 in 2010/11 to 160 in 2014/15.

The Minister offered the proviso that the figures relating to 2014/15 are currently provisional.

Mr O’Dowd said that the finalised figures will be available at the end of February 2015.