Minister for Integration, Conor Lenihan, TD last week met with primary, post primary and third level students in Cork as well as principals, deputy principals, teachers and university staff, during visits to Glountaune National School, St Aloysius Secondary School and University College, Cork.

Following the visits, Minister Lenihan launched the first dedicated regional integration strategy, Cork City Integration Strategy 2008-2011.

At the start of his busy day, Minister Lenihan visited Glountaune National School where the pupils welcomed the Minister in a number of international languages.

Glountaune NS caters for around 390 pupils with over 40 of those coming from countries around the world including Poland, Congo, South Africa, Nigeria, Chad, Croatia and Sweden.

Minister Lenihan congratulated the school for "creating an exciting intercultural community where diversity is celebrated and where international cultures and traditions inform the broad education that is on offer to the students here in Glountaune national school."

During the visit, Minister Lenihan presented the school with their Primary School Assessment Kits. Launched this week by the Minister, the assessment kit has been developed to assist primary schools and language support teachers to assess proficiency, plan, and monitor English language support for newcomer students.

The assessment kits will be distributed to every primary school in the country by the Department of Education and Science.

Minister Lenihan went on to visit St. Aloysius Secondary School on Sharman Crawford Street. The all girls secondary school caters for around 450 students, including over 50 international students. As well as offering a broad education, students in St. Aloysius School participate in a range of activities, including tennis, basketball, camogie, debating and public speaking, as well being involved with Amnesty International and the Meitheal Programme.

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