A MUM has temporarily taken her eight-year-old son out of his school in Dublin following nearby anti-immigration protests in recent weeks.
Andreea-Claudia Calin took her son out of Canal Way Educate Together School in Dublin 8, where protesters have gathered at drop off and collection times.
A structured tent had been erected close to the school gates with graffiti stating: “Dublin 8 says no.”
The mother-of-two, who is originally from Romania and grew up in Greece, has been living in Ireland since 2018 with her partner.
Speaking on RTE‘s Today with Claire Byrne, Andreea-Claudia said the final straw for her was when she was informed by the school about a knife incident in the area last month.
She said she made the decision not to send her son to school on Monday.
The mum explained: “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.
“It doesn’t seem normal and it’s not sustainable.
“What if things escalate? Today they have an organised protest, more numbers outside of the school.”
The mother-of-two also said that parents and the local community are worried about the protesters, fearing a potential escalation of the situation.
The worried mum added that the school principal has been working “tirelessly” to resolve the issue.
They also managed to get a garda patrol car outside the school premises during drop off and collection.
She added: “And I’m one of the lucky people who can do that and keep him home – some parents can’t.
“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’
“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.”
In a statement, the principal of Canal Way Educate Together Dermot Stanley said the board is “monitoring” the protests’ impact on its school community.
He said: “We are always saddened when a child temporarily withdraws, particularly when the circumstances involve challenges that fall beyond the school’s capacity to fully address or control.
“We have notified the departments and ministers of education and justice, An Garda Siochana, Into, Forsa and other relevant stakeholders, seeking a respectful and inclusive resolution that prioritises the wellbeing of our entire community.”
IPAS CENTRE
Mr Stanley said the tent structure was moved within two metres from theInternational Protection Accommodation Service (Ipas) centre hall door and four metres from the school.
There is one Ipas centre currently in operation at Basin View since 2022.
And the Government had plans to expand the centre but they were dropped in recent weeks.
