The Government will examine how vital grants to Protestant secondary schools in the Republic could be reinstated, it emerged today.Minister for Education Batt O’Keefe revealed payments to fee-paying schools could be restructured after he held talks with the Royal Black Institution in Dublin.
The group claim up to a dozen Protestant-managed secondary schools face closure within the next three years because of a €2.8 million cut.
Mr O’Keeffe described the meeting as constructive and said it was important for him to understand properly the position of Protestant fee-paying schools, particularly the difficulties faced by those in the Border counties.
He denied the cut had been discriminatory but stressed the payment of the ancillary grant had been repugnant of the Constitution. “In no way can I restore that grant in the format in which it was in,” said the Minister. “I’ve suggested that we might look at how we might restructure grants in general to Protestant fee-paying schools and make sure they have a sound constitutional base.”
While Protestant school still receive €6.5 million funding as part of the block grant system, a further €2.8 million ancillary grant was withdrawn by the Governments in a bid to slash public spending during the recession. The funding usually covers the cost of caretaker and secretarial supports in schools.
The Institution maintained half of 22 Protestant post-primary schools in the Irish Republic could close, while another six which are comprehensive should be safe.
Billy Scott, imperial grand treasurer, said delegates got the impression that both Mr O’Keeffe and Fine Gael Education spokesman Brian Hayes have a real desire to see the problem resolved to the satisfaction of its members.
He revealed however the controversy could only reach agreement with the goodwill of all sides involved including parents, Protestant churches and community representatives.
Mr Scott said many parents - particularly in the Border counties - felt the axing of the grant targeted them both financially and socially.
“They accepted there was going to be pain for everyone in the current financial crisis and they have no problem, more than anyone has, in biting the
bullet and accepting what they would see as their fair share of whatever savings and cuts have to come,” said Mr Scott. “Their concern was that this particular one will cost the Protestant community dearly but not anyone else.”
Earlier this week the Government announced it was overturning a previous cost-saving plan by Mr O’Keeffe.
In May the Education Minister said he no longer had the funds to finance expansion plans for the all-Ireland Autism Centre at Middletown, Co Armagh.
But after lobbying from Northern Ireland ministers, including Sinn Féin’s Caitriona Ruane, it was announced at the North-South Ministerial Council meeting in Limavady on Monday that the scheme was now back on track.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: IT