A mother has made the decision to temporarily withdraw her 8-yr-old son from his Dublin school due to concerns over anti-immigration protests nearby, reports RTE.
Andreea-Claudia Calin removed her son from Canal Way Educate Together School in Dublin 8, where demonstrators have been gathering during school drop-off and pick-up times.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Ms Calin said she believes the protests started in response to a Government proposal to renovate a nearby IPAS centre, reports RTE.
She said the protests are “not conducted in the most appropriate manner,” and the final trigger for her came when she received an email about a knife incident at another nearby school.
“I could see my son being anxious, he was asking why there was a tent outside (the school)…I try to do what’s best for my son and keep him home because I was afraid,” she explained,” reports RTE.
Ms Calin said local parents and community members are uneasy about upsetting the protesters for fear the situation might worsen.
She said the school principal has “worked tirelessly” to help manage the issue and has succeeded in securing a Garda presence during school hours, reports RTE.
However, she remains concerned about possible escalation of the situation.
“It doesn’t seem normal and it’s not sustainable,” she said, reports RTE.
“What if things escalate? Today they have an organised protest, more numbers outside of the school,” reports RTE.
Ms Calin said her son “loves school” and misses his classmates. His teacher has provided help so that she can support his learning at home, but “it’s not easy,” she said.
“And I’m one of the lucky people who can do that and keep him home… some parents can’t,” she added, reports RTE.
“It’s disheartening. I just got my citizenship, my family got their Irish citizenship. My daughter was born here, my son doesn’t know any other home. I’ve been an immigrant since I was little, I lived for 20 years in Greece and I’ve seen the situation change there. It really worries me that I don’t feel welcome in a country that I call my home. I don’t know what can happen next,” reports RTE.
Ms Calin said she has considered leaving Ireland, but is unsure where else to go. She said some of her neighbours from abroad are also contemplating returning home.
Speaking about her time in Greece, she said her father moved there many years ago, when immigrants were few and far between, reports RTE.
Over time, she said, as immigration increased, the local population became “angry, tired and let down by the government” and directed that anger toward immigrants.
“The far-right began gaining support, the mood on the streets changed, there were protests, they were hostile, they were harassing people of different colour on the streets. I’m worried that this will happen here,” she said, explaining this was part of why she left Greece, reports RTE.
Ms Calin said she contacted TDs regarding the protest outside her son’s school, but “no one replied, no one acknowledged it”.
The school is “doing their best,” she said, but she feels the wider public isn’t hearing enough about what’s happening.
“No one speaks about the children, the right that they have to go to school in peace. They’re affected, families are affected; the focus should be on them,” she said, reports RTE.
Ms Calin has urged the Government to come and listen to the views of the school, the parents, and the protesters.
“To try to find a solution, if that’s possible… I would love for my son to be able to go back to school,” reports RTE.
Canal Way Educate Together’s principal said it’s “always saddened” when a child has to be withdrawn from school, especially when complex issues arise beyond their control.
In a statement, Dermot Stanley said the school is keeping a close eye on how the protests are affecting their school community, reports RTE.
“Despite our direct request and repeated pleas to the protesters for a different approach, these have so far been unsuccessful,” he said, reports RTE.
“We have notified the departments and ministers of education and justice, An Garda Síochána, the INTO, Fórsa and other relevant stakeholders, seeking a respectful and inclusive resolution that prioritises the wellbeing of our entire community,” reports RTE.
Mr Stanley noted that the tent Ms Calin referred to was moved to within four metres of the school’s gate and just two metres from the IPAS hall entrance.
He said they’ve formally contacted the HSA, DCC planning, DCC fire prevention, DCC traffic, and An Garda Síochána.
“To date, no authority has taken action to remove it or the protesters,” he said, reports RTE.
A Garda spokesperson said officers responded to reports of an assault and public order incident at Basin Street, Dublin 8, at 8.45am on Wednesday 28 May.
A male youth was arrested in connection with the event and has since been released.
A file is being prepared for the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, and the investigation is ongoing, reports RTE.
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