Protestant School threatened after bus axed

[paulp]

I suppose as well, they may feel particularly grieved if their 'local school' is run with a distinct Catholic ethos rather than non-denominational

[feedmelies]

Not sure why people chose a school based on religion in this day and age.

[QuizMaster]

there's something else to take into account here...
Most of these buses are being operated by Bus Eireann.
I had a look at the figures and it works out at about 6 euro per child per day.
For only 8 euro I (an adult) can get from Malin to Derry and home, a round trip of 50 miles.
The accounts that cover these bus runs are mixed up with the Expressway routes figures. I was at a public meeting about this and there is some disquiet that Bus Eireann might be taking the inflated subsidy and siphoning it off into other areas.

A bit of open tendering would be good. Failing that, the parents could charter their own bus or even an old Belfast Taxi, for less money.

[seanad voter]

I don't know if that last point is applicable in this instance though. But I'm always mindful of Carndonagh Community School in Donegal, one of the largest secondary schools in the Republic, where local Protestants and Catholics were all educated together and that certainly helped the generally harmonious community relations at least among our generation.

Good job the right Jxxxxxxs brother got the teaching job there then and not the elder teaching one who dropped his girlfriend as soon as he discovered she was a Prod.

[Fir Bolg]

No. I didn't suggest that. I suggested that because they're a minority (didn't have to be Protestants) they're an easy target for people looking to shave off a few quid here or there. Much less hassle to go after a small group than one representing the majority who'd kick up more of a fuss.

The bottom line is, that now after the bus has been removed, the schools future is under pressure. The knock on effect from this tiny "saving" doesn't compute.

Seeing as bus services to nearly all schools are being curtailed somewhat, your point that its a deliberate targeting of a minority is dubious to say the least.

[SideysGhost]

I suppose as well, they may feel particularly grieved if their 'local school' is run with a distinct Catholic ethos rather than non-denominational

Could be an opportunity there if the officials in the Department have a bit of wit about them...save money supporting unsustainably tiny schools by amalgamating them with a large sustainable school while stripping that school of Church control and influence, and making it non/multi-denominational.

[Odyessus]

Not sure why people chose a school based on religion in this day and age.

You don't have to be be. They have a Constitutional right to send their children to schools of their own choosing. They don't have to justify their choice to anyone.

[Ren84]

There shouldn't be any need for Protestant schools, anymore than there should be Catholic schools. If parents want to send their kids to a denominational school, let them pay for it and the services they require and leave the state to fund secular, state run schools.

[DiarmuidM]

The sooner that everyone gets educated together in secular state schools on this Island, regardless of background or religion - the better.


Otherwise, this Island with be Euro-China / Euro Africa in a decade, and both sides of the political persuasion will be like 2 bald men fighting over a comb.

[Ren84]

You don't have to be be. They have a Constitutional right to send their children to schools of their own choosing. They don't have to justify their choice to anyone.

Of course they don't. But if they specifically want to send their children to a religious school, then they should pay for it themselves.