Sean Ashe, CEO of Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) said, “We welcome this announcement and look forward to engaging with Educate Together in formulating the Deed of Trust and Model Agreement for this new Community School.” He also expressed his thanks to all of the parents and guardians who supported KWETB in the patronage application.
The development of the school has come about as a real need for another multi- denominational Post Primary School was identified which would cater for the growing population of north Kildare. The new 1,000 pupil school will be located on the Hazelhatch Road, on the same campus as the new St. Patrick’s Primary School. It will be developed by way of a Public Private Partnership and is currently at planning stages.
The New Schools Establishment Group drew a number of conclusions on the applications for patronage for the new Post Primary School for Celbridge, notably that the parental demand for each model is reasonably strong though the parental demand for the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board is stronger than that for the Educate model (with the exception of 2016) both at the commencement of the new school and in succeeding years.
Meeting diversity, delivering top class education and catering for students of all faiths and none is at the heart of a multi- denominational school. The New Schools Establishment Group also noted that the model proposed by the applications separately would provide for greater diversity of provision in the feeder area.
Further conclusions:
The applicants have applied for a joint model of patronage but have not agreed the model or obtained parental support for this development. Where an Education and Training Board joins with another national patron body, such as Educate Together, the resulting school model is required to be of a community school type. If the parties proceed with this model, this would provide greater diversity in the feeder area.
Taking the separate parental demand presented by both applicants together, a potentially strong viable school emerges.
Given the relative closeness in terms of parental preference numbers, a significant level of unmet demand would occur either way if a decision on patronage was taken in favour of one applicant over another.
The Irish based motorcycle insurer has been instrumental in assisting the County Kildare circuit with its promotion of Irish Short Circuit Motorcycle Racing since 2011 and for 2014 will increase their involvement. The increased involvement will assist the organisers in attracting bigger names to the series and looking for new and more comprehensive TV coverage outlets.
The series will retain its basic format for 2014 with some small changes being worked on which will make it more attractive to competitors. The race events will continue to concentrate on the Superbike and Supersport classes but efforts are being made to find ways to cut costs for riders in these classes, with limits on the numbers of tyres per weekend being one possibility.
Efforts are also being made to find ways to increase the exposure given to the support races, both through the Series web site www.adelaidemasters.ie and the championship TV coverage. To assist in making the series more viable for competitors, a riders' forum will be held in January to discuss possible changes and improvements.
One of the biggest elements of the Adelaide Masters Series growth has been its TV coverage. For 2014 a number of TV options are being discussed, including a continuation of the UTV programmes, expansion onto other stations and the possible creation of an Adelaide Masters Series programme on Mondello Park's very successful web streaming channel, Mondello.TV.
Further details of the calendar, race day format, rule changes and TV coverage will be announced in due course. For further information see www.adelaidemasters.ie.
]]>The purpose of the survey is to capture thoughts and views on Celbridge. The survey will be used to develop an Action plan for the Celbridge community through the Integrated Services Programme (ISP).
The ISP was established as an innovative initiative of Kildare County Development Board in 2010. It was developed largely to operationalize the plans and thinking of the CDB. The ISP brings together statutory agencies, local community and business representatives and elected members to develop and implement and area plan on evidence/research. The ISP takes a whole town approach to respond to social, economic, tourism, cultural, recreation and educational needs.
The ISP is established in two towns to date- Kildare town and Kilcock. Work has commenced to establish the programme in Celbridge.
The first step of the ISP is to carry out research in Celbridge. The priorities agreed are based on researched needs and a collaborative structure composed of ISP stakeholders oversee and progress the actions.
This ISP research and planning process in Celbridge involves reviews of relevant planning documentation in addition to extensive consultation with a broad range of stakeholders across the statutory, business and community / voluntary sectors.
This survey is a great opportunity to let the ISP know what is working well and what the gaps in Celbridge are. The survey is part of local area research. The vision of the plan is to support Celbridge through collaborative working to become a sustainable and socially cohesive community which meets the health, employment, education, safety, infrastructural, recreation and cultural needs of all residents.
Honor Griffin, ISP Coordinator, said ‘the Celbridge Community have welcomed the ISP and have been very open and engaging through the research consultations to date. This survey is intended for adults living or working in Celbridge that wish to have their views heard. The survey should take between 3 and 5 minutes to complete. ’
Survey link as follows: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/66VGYQS
Hard copies of the survey are available in Celbridge Community Library.
The Survey will close on 6th December 2013.
The BioBog project has been developed by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC). The project is aimed at school groups and young people visiting the Bog of Allen Nature Centre.
Students will be encouraged to participate in a practical biodiversity management field studies programme focusing on species such as butterfly and frog, and endangered habitats of bogs and wetlands. They will learn new skills in the area of nature conservation in the fields of measuring, managing and monitoring habitats and wildlife.
“Children are our future. Today’s child will be tomorrows adult, making decisions that impact on his or her home, community, or even country. The BioBog project will help to shape the lives of participants helping them to become active citizens and responible environmental stewards. We cannot expect them to value or protect something they’ve had little or no exposure to and have little or no understanding of. BioBog is the Irish Peatland Conservation Council’s effort to guide young people to learn about, cherish, and care for the life that surrounds and nurtures us all in the Bog of Allen”, said Dr Catherine O’Connell , the project leader.
BioBog is supported by the Department of Arts, Hertiage and the Gaeltacht, the Notice Nature Campaign and the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity.
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