Protesting parents who took pupils from school may be prosecuted
Wednesday September 02 2009
PARENTS of 14 children who have been withdrawn from a Co Donegal school in a row over school transport could face prosecution.
Yesterday should have been the second day back at Stramore National School for children from the nearby village of Churchill.
But instead, they have been removed from the school indefinitely until a protracted row over school transport is resolved.
They are seeking bus transport to Stramore NS, just 5km from their homes, instead of being bussed to another primary school 15km away, which is what they are being offered.
"It defies logic that children cannot get a bus to their nearest primary school," said parents' representative, Mary Walker Callaghan.
"We are in this for the long haul. This is not something we have chosen lightly but parents are prepared to take this as far as they have to," she added.
Last night, the National Education Welfare Board, which has responsibility for school attendance, confirmed that an Educational Welfare Officer may become involved in a situation where a child was not receiving their entitlement to an education.
"When the officer is satisfied that a parent is failing in their duty towards their children's education, a prosecution under the Education (Welfare) Act will be considered as a last resort to safeguard the child's right to an education," a spokesperson said.
The Department of Education said last night that it was "not possible" to cater for the children on transport to Stramore NS.
Although Stramore NS is their closest school, this year children from Churchill, who had previously been getting concessionary bus tickets, have only been offered bus tickets to Termon National School, about 15km away.
- Anita Guidera
