Paul KeenanDr Martin accused of lack of consultation
Parents of schoolchildren set to be affected by a major schools amalgamation in Dublin have accused Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of ignoring their objections to the move.
Some 700 parents, teachers and pupils from the De La Salle and Dominican primary schools in Ballyfermot marched last Monday to protest the proposed loss of the 300-pupil De La Salle and the increased pressure to be placed on its already 700-strong neighbour by that closure.
Spokesman for parents, Martin Walsh, told The Irish Catholic that parents felt they had no choice but to take to the streets as their wishes have been repeatedly ignored.
“Different reasons have been given for the closure,” he said, “and each time we counter them, we get new reasons.” He added that, despite diocesan claims of regular meetings with stakeholders and parents on the amalgamation “there has been no meaningful consultation”. Walsh said parents suspected the archdiocese of targeting the De La Salle for closure merely to satisfy the outstanding bill from Government for historic abuse cases and have vowed to continue their protests. “We’ll occupy the school if necessary,” he said.
In a statement, the Archdiocese of Dublin has insisted that the Ballyfermot amalgamation is necessary “due to falling pupil numbers” at the De La Salle and stressed that “a specialised project team from the archdiocese has been working with people in Ballyfermot for over a year to help guide a process of amalgamation”.