Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

My colleagues in Government and I recognise the importance of ensuring that students from a Protestant background can attend a school that reflects their denominational ethos. I have met representatives of the Church of Ireland, the Grand Orange Lodge and a rural Protestant fee-paying school. I will meet representatives of the Protestant education sector tomorrow.

The representations I have received have focused on two aspects of the budget changes. First was the allocation of teachers to all fee-charging schools. By making the changes to the pupil-teacher ratio, the Government recognised that such schools, regardless of religious ethos, have extra income which they can use and have used to employ additional teachers. If I had not made this change, I would have been faced with making a more severe change to the staffing position of all schools. I believe the measures that differentiated between those schools with fee income and those without were fairer all round. The case being put to me is that this change should not apply to Protestant fee-charging schools.

The second aspect is the withdrawal of certain grants that had been paid to Protestant fee-charging schools that were not paid to Catholic fee-charging schools. The argument being put to me is that the grants should be restored. I have emphasised that the Government decided to continue to provide the block grant, which was increased this year. It is targeted as a support to individual pupils to enable them to attend Protestant schools.

Article 44 of the Constitution permits State aid to denominational schools, but only on the basis that there be no discrimination between schools under different religious management. The advice of the Attorney General has been provided on the interpretation of this provision and I am satisfied that the budget changes are consistent with the Constitution.

From the discussions I have had, I am aware that the funding position of Protestant fee-charging schools in many areas may be more difficult than the position of Protestant fee-charging schools in Dublin. I have consistently said I am willing to consider any proposals that would more effectively focus funding on schools in rural areas. I have still to receive any such proposals. Any proposals and how precisely they are targeted will need to be considered having regard to the constitutional requirement.

See this speech in context