Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Prior to the summer recess, Deputy Brian Hayes, the Fine Gael spokesman on education, asked the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, about the withdrawal of facilities for Protestant fee-paying schools. He raised this again yesterday in the Dáil. The Protestant Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. John Neil, raised this matter at his diocesan synod. I understand the facility was made available to fee-paying Protestant schools by the late Donogh O'Malley, for very good reasons, when free education was introduced. All Governments since then have treated the Protestant fee-paying schools fairly, as stated by Archbishop Neil yesterday.

The Minister for Education and Science has wandered into stormy waters that could be very controversial. Will the Taoiseach state why advice on this matter was sought from the Attorney General given that the system in place operated without any difficulty for the past 40 years? Will he confirm what question was asked of the Attorney General? It appears as if the Minister for Education and Science is saying in his responses to Deputy Brian Hayes that the payment to Protestant fee-paying schools has been unconstitutional in all the years for which it has been made available. Who sought advice from the Attorney General and what question was asked? Does the Taoiseach believe the system that has been in place for 40 years is unconstitutional?

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