The Workplace Relations Commission found that a mother’s complaints against a primary school were not well founded in a decision dated 23 May 2018. She brought the case on behalf of her son, alleging discrimination on the Traveller community ground and victimisation.
The mother said the school required her son to change into and out of his uniform at school and called him out in front of his class. She argued that he was singled out because he was from the Traveller community. The school said it kept uniforms on site for pupils who had repeatedly lost or not worn them, and that other non-Traveller pupils also used the service.
The adjudication officer preferred the school’s evidence and found no prima facie case of discrimination. On victimisation, she found no evidence to support the complaint and concluded that a meeting with the mother and contact with TUSLA arose from concerns about the boy’s welfare. Both complaints failed.