THE DEPARTMENT of Education has confirmed it is not in a position to provide transport to 15 Donegal children whose parents have now withdrawn them from school.
A stand-off continued yesterday as parents in the Churchill area maintained their protest outside Stramore National School in Glendowan.
Just days before the school was due to reopen for the new term, parents were informed that 15 children in the local area would be refused access to school transport. An option was given, however, to send them to Termon National School, over eight miles away.
According to a spokeswoman for the Parents’ Association, this situation is one which has been ongoing for the past eight years since the removal of the bus route through Churchill village.
“At that time Stramore National School only had 11 pupils. Now, the area has experienced a substantial regeneration and the school has 56 pupils, with 70 expected next year,” said Mary Walker-Callaghan.
The Department of Education confirmed, however, that it is not in a position to provide transport to Stramore National School. It claimed that as eligibility rules are applied nationally, “any changes in this instance will have national implications”. In light of this, it would not be possible to cater for these children.
It added: “In the case of Stramore NS, due to the mix of ages of the children eligible for transport, it has not been possible to provide concessionary transport for a number of pupils.”
The department said there is an added complexity in this case in relation to rules governing the amalgamation of primary schools, stating: “Children in the Churchill area are eligible for transport to Termon NS and transport is available to this school.”
Ms Walker-Callaghan stressed that this is not a viable option.
“If the department were really concerned about this situation they should send someone down here to get the two boards of management together to find some sort of a solution.”
She added: “We have already bought uniforms and books for one school, and now the department is expecting us to send our children to another school. It’s just not a workable scenario.”
Parents have now been told that they could face prosecution if they continue to keep their children out of school. The National Education Welfare Board, the body responsible for school attendance, confirmed an educational welfare officer may become involved if children were not receiving their entitlement to education.