Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he has received a letter (details supplied) regarding the impact of the financial cuts imposed on the Protestant voluntary secondary schools in budget 2009; if he has responded to the concerns expressed by them in their letter of 2 March 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12246/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to reassure the Deputy that I, along with my colleagues in Government, recognise the importance of ensuring that students from a Protestant background can attend a school that reflects their denominational ethos. The Deputy may be aware that I met with representatives of the Church of Ireland Board of Education, led by Archbishop John Neill, on 13 November last.

The meeting provided me with an opportunity to explain at first hand the context for the budget changes that were of concern to the Bishops and the schools serving the Church of Ireland and other minority churches. In the course of the meeting, I confirmed my budget day announcement that the funding provided through the Protestant Block grant was being continued by the Government. I explained that against a backdrop of a difficult economic and fiscal situation I had to take decisions that impacted on the staffing and the range of funding grants to schools generally. The decision to cease paying certain grants to the Protestant fee charging schools, which were not paid to other fee charging schools, has to be viewed in that wider context.

I also stated that I would be willing to respond positively to any proposals they might make on how the block grant could be better targeted to meet the needs of the Protestant community, having regard to its dispersed population, particularly in rural and border areas, and the need to sustain and support Protestant schools. I look forward to receiving those proposals in due course. I recently received correspondence from the Secondary Education Committee who have sought a meeting with my officials to progress the matter.

I also met with representatives of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland on 10 March, the first time their members have sent a delegation to Leinster House. I briefed them on funding arrangements for Protestant schools and confirmed that I would be willing to meet them again if required.

With the introduction of the free education scheme in 1967, it was recognised that the level of funding was not sufficient to enable Protestant schools to join the scheme, particularly given that many of their students had to board. For that reason, separate arrangements were put in place to ensure that Protestant students would be able to attend schools under Protestant management. However, Protestant fee-charging schools were never considered part of the free education scheme.

The block grant, which is expected to be €6.5 million in this school year, covers capitation, tuition and boarding costs and is distributed through the Secondary Education Committee established by the churches concerned. Applications for assistance are made by parents to the Secondary Education Committee which, on the basis of a means test, distributes the funds to individual schools on the basis of pupil needs. This fund ensures that necessitous Protestant children can attend a school of their choice.