Call for inquiry into VEC funds for private-school bus
A Catholic couple have been informed by the Limerick City Vocational Education Committee (VEC) that their children, who attend Villiers School, cannot get passes as the bus was for children from the Protestant denominations.
A member of the VEC last night demanded to know why it was running a bus for pupils at Villiers as the school was private and had nothing to do with the VEC. Councillor John Gilligan said: “I was flabbergasted when I found out in the Irish Examiner that the City VEC was operating a bus for the benefit of students at Villiers School. We have responsibility for St Nessan’s and the old Red Tech in O’Connell Avenue and have nothing to do with Villiers.
“We do not run any buses to the schools under our remit and I am perplexed that we are running a bus for students at a private school which has nothing to do with us.
“I am a regular attender at VEC meetings and I have never heard of mention of a school bus service. This is something we should not be financing as we have enough demands on our resources from out own schools.”
Mr Gilligan said he would be demanding a full explanation about the Villiers bus at the next meeting of the Limerick City VEC.
Villiers parent Harry Gleeson sought a bus pass for his son and daughter who attend the North Circular Road school, as the bus passed by the family home at Caher Road, Mungret.
He received a letter on August 3 from the city VEC informing him that his children were not eligible for transport on the bus.
The letter of refusal stated: “Villiers School is a school under Protestant management and only children of Protestant denominations have an entitlement to transport on the special Adare Villiers bus service.”
Mr Gilligan said it was not in the remit of Limerick City VEC to spend money financing transport for children attending private schools.
The VEC has declined to comment.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
