Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he has engaged with the authorities of the various fee-paying schools throughout the country with particular reference to the need to ensure that any future changes in funding does not result in an increased charge to the Exchequer or the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17964/13]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will indicate, arising from the McCarthy Report, wherein changes were proposed in respect of public funding of fee-paying schools, whether it is recognised that such a proposal may result in an increased charge to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17965/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together.

The salaries of teachers employed within the approved annual staffing allocation for fee charging schools by my Department, are paid by the State; an arrangement that pre-dates the introduction of the Free Education scheme and which exists since the foundation of the State. The estimated cost of these posts is in the order of €100m.

Given the extremely difficult economic circumstances that this country is facing and the fact that every Department has to find considerable cost-savings, all expenditure must be examined to see if cost-savings can be found. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot at this stage anticipate any specific decisions the Government may take in respect of the next budget.