Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on the non-payment of certain grants to Catholic fee-paying schools; the grants involved; the value of same; if all fee-paying schools regardless of denomination will no longer receive these grants; the reasoning behind this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38013/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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There are 56 fee-charging second level schools in the State, of which 21 are Protestant, 2 inter-denominational, 1 Jewish, and the balance (32) Catholic.

With the exception of the Protestant and Jewish fee-charging schools, for which special arrangements apply, fee-charging schools do not receive any grants.

Minority religion schools were eligible for all grants payable to schools in the Free Education Scheme, with the exception of the per capita grant.

These grants were:

Schools Service Support grant of €204 per pupil;

Caretaker and Secretary grant of €69.84 per pupil, subject to a maximum of 350 pupils, or €24,444 per school;

Equalisation for Caretaker and Secretary grants of €44.44 per pupil, subject to a maximum of 350 pupils, or €15,554 per school.

The removal of these ancillary grants brings these schools into line with the situation pertaining in Catholic fee-charging schools.

The decision to remove these grants came against the backdrop of a challenging international economic situation. It is necessary to curtail expenditure in some areas, in order that resources may be more efficiently targeted at areas of greater disadvantage. I can see no justification for treating the non-Catholic fee-charging schools in a special way, particularly given that Catholic fee-charging schools have not been in receipt of the grants in question at all.

I wish to re-emphasise that there are no changes proposed in respect of the Protestant Block Grant. Protestant fee-charging 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.