The Independent article above is behind a pay wall for me, but this is in the Kerryman newspaper which is part of the Independent group.
Parents' group claims school lacking consultation on 'gender-neutral' toilets. A group of concerned parents and the Board of Management at Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí are at loggerheads over a decision to install gender-neutral toilets at the new school, which is due to open on a 6.5-acre site in Tralee next month.
The €16million campus will cater for over 600 pupils, but some parents say they are unhappy at not being consulted about a decision to provide gender-neutral toilets for male and female students aged between 12 and 19 years.
Principal of Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí Ruairí Ó Cinnéide stated that guidelines for toilet layout, and the school curriculum content, come directly from the Department of Education.
He said the toilets are designed in line with the Department of Education's School Design Guidelines for Sanitary Facilities.The school has assigned separate toilet blocks for girls, boys and also has a unisex toilet block.
Tralee mother Dee Stewart, whose daughters attend Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí, questions the need to create 'a dilemma' around toilet facilities in the first place, adding she is unhappy at the lack of consultation and unease among parents who believe gender-identity policies are being fast-tracked at the behest of parental input.
Ms Stewart is a member of the Kerry Parent Rights Alliance - a group set up last December for parents anxious over policy changes around gender that may impact their child's school environment.
She asserts that gender-neutral toilets remain an 'untested policy' within the school setting and is part of a fast-tracking of policy changes that require more parental scrutiny.
The concerned group of parents say they do not accept communal toilet spaces over what they claim is 'potential health and safety risks', including the psychological effects sharing a toilet space may have on young children.
But The Kerryman understands that - following a meeting with the Board of Management last week - it was decided to change the layout by having male toilets on the top floor, female toilets on the middle floor, and gender-neutral toilets on the ground floor of the school.
“We're still not happy with this decision as, I feel, the health and safety risks still exist on the ground floor. Anyway, why must girls on the bottom floor now go to the middle floor to use the toilet?” Ms Stewart said.
The parents' group claim they found out about the decision to install gender-neutral toilets via a WhatsApp message from a parents' group.
They outlined their dismay in an email direct to school management.
Moreover, they expressed disappointment at the cancellation of two meetings with the Board of Management to discuss the matter that were due to have taken place on March 7 and 23.
The school has since denied this, saying the meetings were rescheduled and not cancelled.
The parents' group contacted Minister for Education Norma Foley seeking clarification. Her reply referenced the 'Professional and Technical Section' of the Department that instructs that school buildings be designed in such a way that 'any toilet' can be used as a boys, girls or gender-neutral toilet and there is no difference in the installation of toilet facilities, irrespective of how they may be assigned.
The Department's guidelines state that toilets should be designed with the physical and emotional safety of pupils in mind, and to promote inclusivity.
It states that the operation and designation of all toilet facilities is a matter for each school authority, as deemed appropriate by the school, and not the Department.
Discussions between concerned parents and Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí are ongoing, while the parents have requested to see the layout of the toilets in order to assess them ahead of the school's opening date of April 24.
Ms Stewart described gender-neutral toilets as a 'red flag' issue and questioned why a forum was not set up for parents to discuss whether it's okay for boys and girls to use the same communal toilet space.
“There are gender differences; this is a denial of the fact girls have different requirements for using facilities,” she said.
“For example, there is a big issue with social anxiety among girls. When girls in the school setting don't feel safe, they usually go to the toilets and close the door. Girls need a safe and private place,” she added.
Impending changes to the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum - that seek to incorporate discussions on gender identity, pornography and sexual consent - have also been criticised by the parents as information is being drip-fed to them by the Department of Education.
“We are trying to get our heads around everything that is happening as it's all happening so quick. The toilets is another example of this,” she said.
“We're just normal parents. As parents, we're being instructed to accept changes for our children that are not even clear to those implementing them,” Ms Stewart added. The parents' group say they want 'greater input' and consultation on gender-identity issues going forward - a request Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí say it is happy to accommodate.
Ms Stewart is adamant that any situation arising where a request for a 'girls only' toilet must be made in 'the year 2023' is unacceptable.
She considers it a contradiction amounting to a lack of inclusivity if demands based only on gender transitioning are being accommodated.
“What about girls' rights? These actions would seem to be eroding them,” she said.
“I know parents who say they are worried about these changes but are afraid to speak publicly for fear of a backlash. This isn't very democratic. You would have to have pause for thought as there's an environment and atmosphere of 'cancel culture' now on many issues relating to topics like this,” she said.
“My motivation is solely my three girls and two boys. There are a lot of words like 'inclusive' going around today that all sound very nice. But, overall, there is a lack of information and transparency about what is meant by 'inclusivity' when it comes to gender,” she explained.
Ms Stewart said Kerry Parent Rights Alliance is made up of parents from all walks of life with no ideological cause, but who say they wish to 'shield children' from what they describe as under-researched gender-identity policies being taught within the school setting.
Lastly, Mr Ó Cinnéide said he has met or has spoken to any parent who has contacted the school to allay their concerns.
“While we take the concerns expressed by the parents on board, I must say that, as principal, it's not an issue that has been raised by a majority of parents in the school,” he said.