Parents council calls out use of schools as polling stations

‘We need to ask ourselves if it is necessary to use schools as polling stations,” The National Parents Council has said.

According to them, it sends a negative message that education can come second when it comes to other events.

With the upcoming referendum on March 8, many schools across the country will only be open for two weeks in March, due to the Easter holidays, St Patrick’s Day, as well as the referendums.

As a result, many parents will be looking for more childcare.

CEO of the National Parents Council, Aine Lynch, said: “We need to ask ourselves if it is necessary to use schools as polling stations because it’s quite a statement on how important we view education if it stops for an election or referendum.”

Ms Lynch added: “There are other community buildings that could be used instead for this purpose and to ensure that education is maintained, otherwise other messages around education start to get connected, such as whether it is okay to take children out of school to go on holiday. School dates should be protected.”