Letters to the Editor: Religion in schools — real change is needed

Although the nature of harm is different, the silence and inaction are all too familiar. Will we be watching this story retold in a documentary 20 years from now, wondering how such exclusion was allowed to continue, and why it wasn’t ended sooner?

Ireland aspires to be the best country to grow up in for every child, as Taoiseach Simon Harris has stated, yet this goal remains elusive for the thousands of “opt-out” children and their families. Reforming religious instruction in schools is essential to creating a respectful environment where every student feels they belong and are cared for during their formative and impressionable years.

Many of us entered this profession to support and uplift children, and it’s painful to confront the possibility that we might inadvertently be causing emotional discomfort or isolation. I worry that leading students in prayer or religious instruction, regardless of intentions, may make some feel like outsiders. 

While it may be difficult for some educators to acknowledge this, the wellbeing of students can no longer be ignored.

The current system also challenges educators who feel conflicted about leading religious instruction that may not align with their personal beliefs. It is disheartening that some may avoid the profession entirely to avoid these moral conflicts, depriving schools of dedicated teachers who only wish to support their students. This is adding to the teacher shortage crisis.

While the outgoing Minister for Education has stated that she lacks the authority to remove religion from schools, the need for reform is undeniable. 

Surveys of parents and teachers seem hollow if real change is not considered, especially when fundamental human rights — such as education without religious compulsion — are at stake. The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation must advocate for reforms that support educators grappling with these heavy realisations and stand with us in our mission to create a sense of real belonging for all students.

One immediate, cost-free solution for the State would be if religious instruction was offered outside regular school hours, led by those who personally embrace that role. Furthermore, teachers need Section 37(1) of the Employment Equality Act removed to freely express their views without fear of compromising their integrity and careers, as I am potentially doing by writing this letter.

To the students and families who have felt marginalised by religious ethos in our schools, I offer my heartfelt apology. However, an apology alone is insufficient. Real change is necessary to build an environment where every child feels they belong, and where their differences are respected and embraced. 

My hope is that by speaking out without the shield of anonymity, we can finally ignite the change needed to ensure all our children feel emotionally safe, equally valued, and at home in our publicly funded schools.

Alana Wilhelm, Blessington, Co Wicklow

Pets are vital for the elderly

I am appalled to think that elderly people are giving up their pets in order to have a carer. ( Elderly people being forced to give up pets to allow carers work in homes). They shouldn’t be carers if that is the attitude, they obviously are not suited to that profession if they can be so callous.

The HSE or organisation representing carers should be ashamed if this is allowed to continue.

My heart goes out to those lonely elderly people who have to give up their pets.

This is an outrage. Those animals are a lifeline and more of a companion than anyone else in their lives and should be treasured.

Maureen Dunne, Longford

Protect bonds between the elderly and their pets

Elderly people in Ireland need to be supported to keep their pets. Their pets need support for vet care, grooming and walking.

This is elderly people’s last lifeline, these pets that have been in a loving home cannot survive well in a shelter.

When elderly people lose their partners, their pet may be all they have to combat loneliness. This is a very serious issue.

Why carers can have pets removed from elderly people is beyond the cause of caring for elderly people. We need pet-friendly carers. No question, these carers need to be investigated.

Yes, some cases of allergy exist but the co-existence of a human and their bonded pet should be protected at all costs.

Otherwise, there will be a decline in the mental health of the elderly, a cost greater to all, and the cost to the shelters.

It’s so distressing all around. We need to do more.

Ciara Minihan, Dublin 3

Get a different carer

Never get rid of any animal at the request of a carer. Ask for a different carer as the benefits of a pet far outweigh a carer. Put the pet in another room, it’s not too hard to do.

I speak as a carer and know the quality of life people benefit from with animal companions.

Anita Chan, Cavan

Straight to solicitor

Most civilised and caring cultures understand the close bond between humans and pets. In many countries retirement homes where older people are cared for have their own live-in pets because they understand the benefits their presence brings to the people living there.

If any of these unfortunate people who were forced to give up their pets was related to me I would be heading straight to my solicitor.

Lorna Renwick, Clonakilty, Co Cork

Garda lack strength

Let’s call a spade a spade and call out the last government, justice minister and Policing Authority for the inherent failures in maintaining policing strength in the State.

The Garda Síochána strength is stated as 14,125.

The real figure of available police personnel is much, much smaller than that because there are those Garda members not available for frontline duties for a myriad of reasons. 

For example, Garda office staff, scenes of crime examiners, members on maternity or paternity leave, secondments overseas in the UN, Interpol, Europol, liaison officers, and those on career breaks, and so on.

The attempts by the Government to recruit 1,000 gardaí over the past few years have failed, and failed miserably, due to the lack of financial and pension incentives, strict disciplinary oversight, increasing violence and disorder towards frontline garda members, little or no support from senior officers, and some in middle management, and, most importantly, lack of a work-life balance.

While 432 completed training and 468 commenced training, 374 gardaí retired or resigned, which left a net increase of only 84 gardaí.

The problem as I see it is the new training regime and its present location. It is too far removed from the realities of policing.

If we want to see an increase that can be sustained, then the training concept has to change as well as its location to large urban areas. The emphasis should not be on compiling manuals in order to obtain a degree or diploma in policing, but one that is pragmatic and practical and allows candidates or recruits to be able to engage fully with the public, where common sense prevails, with a reasonable knowledge of the law.

I have always believed in the concept of community policing as the cornerstone of policing in this state, unlike other jurisdictions.

However, present policies and restrictions and overt influence from non-police personnel/academics, and recruited foreign police personnel, who do not understand the Garda Síochána’s historical role in community policing, have created the vacuum that we see today.

Until we right the wrongs of this past decade of recruitment and retention, and stop pandering to those who have never donned the uniform or risked their lives in order to save others, then we will never get back to what was a community-orientated and inclusive force, one that was part of the people, and one that was visible in every town, city, village, and rural area, in this State.

Christy Galligan, Retd Gda Sgt, Letterkenny, Donegal

Hollow concerns over children's wellbeing

Fine Gael’s Acorn Savings Account scheme that proposes to redistribute taxpayers’ money upwards to further enrich the already well-off is, without doubt, the grottiest and most offensive election promise to emerge so far.

If Fine Gael is seriously concerned for the wellbeing of the nation’s children, it would spend the money it proposes to splurge on this scheme to address the shameful level of hardship that many children currently have to endure.

The numbers are stark. Some 260,000 children are currently experiencing deprivation with nearly 5,000 living in emergency accommodation. There are over 8,000 children on long waiting lists to see a psychologist with 500 on a Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Camhs) waiting list for over a year. 

Add to that the thousands of children who turn up for school hungry and the many living in households that suffer frequent power disconnections and are unable to keep a prepay meter in credit, then Fine Gael’s concern for the wellbeing of our children begins to ring very hollow indeed.

Jim O’Sullivan, Rathedmond, Sligo