Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I am pleased to be given the opportunity, on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, to clarify the position in relation to the withdrawal of certain grants from Protestant fee-paying schools.

The statement by the Minister, Deputy O'Keeffe, on the budget made it clear that the Protestant block grant remains in place. For that reason, the Minister was surprised by the comments attributed to the Archbishop of Dublin concerning the agreement referred to by the Deputy. In addition to the block grant, Protestant fee-paying schools were paid a range of support services grants that the Catholic fee-paying schools did not receive. These grants were not available at the time of the agreement with the representatives of the Protestant faith schools and therefore the Minister is not breaking any formal agreement. The purpose of these grants was not to offset fees for disadvantaged Protestant students. It is estimated that savings of €2.8 million will accrue as a result of the withdrawal of these grants from the Protestant fee-paying schools in 2009.

There are 56 fee-charging second level schools in the State, of which 21 are Protestant, two inter-denominational, one Jewish, and the balance of 32 are Catholic. The Deputy has expressed concern regarding the effect the withdrawal of the support services grant will have on access by disadvantaged students of the Protestant faith to schools reflecting the Protestant ethos. The Minister wishes to re-emphasise that there are no changes proposed in respect of the Protestant block grant. Protestant fee-paying schools receive, and will continue to receive, the Protestant block grant, which in the current school year amounts to €6.25 million. This payment covers capitation, tuition and boarding grants.

The grant is distributed by the Secondary Education Committee among needier Protestant children. Applications are made by parents to the Central Protestant Churches Authority, which, on the basis of a means test, distributes the funds to individual schools on the basis of pupil needs. The retention of this grant demonstrates the importance the Minister for Education, and this Government, continue to attach to ensuring that students of the Protestant faith can attend schools that reflect their denominational ethos.

The decision to remove these grants came against the backdrop of a difficult international economic situation. It was inevitable in these circumstances that the education budget for 2009 should include a number of measures that will involve curtailing expenditure. However, the Minister cannot agree with the Deputy's assertion that their removal will affect access by disadvantaged Protestant students to fee-paying schools, as this access remains protected through the Protestant block grant.

Once again I want to thank the Deputy for providing me with the opportunity to address the House on this matter and to outline the current position.

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