Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

This Government, like all its predecessors, is anxious to support minority schools, faith schools and the Protestant community generally. That is our intention at all times. The block grant remains in place and there is no question of its having been removed. It applies to those attending Protestant fee-charging schools and we continue to provide the support. It is a targeted support for individual members of the Protestant community wishing to attend Protestant second level schools.

The issue in question arose in regard to the withdrawal of an ancillary grant last year as part of the measures the Minister had to consider in the context of limited resources. Since last November, he has made it clear to the education committee of the Church of Ireland that he would like to hear from it on the issue of how those schools in rural areas that require support can be targeted, while acknowledging at the same time that there are well-established schools in more urban areas that draw from a wide catchment, similar to Catholic fee-paying schools. It is a question of hearing from the education committee as to how we can better target those schools that require financial support in the interest of maintaining the Protestant ethos in our education system, which we all welcome.

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