John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I would like to briefly mention a reasonable alternative suggestion that has been made by Kilkenny College. The school authorities have suggested that a pro rata increase in the block grant, which is distributed by the Department of Education and Science to Protestant schools, could be provided for. Such additional moneys could be given to students through the Protestant schools. The problem faced by Kilkenny College is that it serves a small community that is spread over a large area, including an interesting part of County Kilkenny that is not very far from my locality. A large number of English people came to work in the coal mines near Castlecomer many years ago. As a result, the largest rural Church of Ireland community in Ireland is in the Clogh, Castlecomer and Moneenroe area. The families in question are not very wealthy. That is the difficulty in which Kilkenny College finds itself. Many other schools around the country are in a similar position. I ask the Department to increase the block grant on a pro rata basis from next year, so that schools like Kilkenny College might be in a position to help their students.