Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2009
1100 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will comment on a recent conference of Protestant secondary schools seeking legal recognition of those schools with Catholic and other State schools in respect of their funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38244/09]
View answerThe Deputy may be aware that I had a constructive meeting with the group which organised this conference on 21 October. I explained that a simple reversal of the measures taken in Budget 2008 applicable to all Protestant fee-charging schools and determined solely on a denominational criterion was not legally possible. I again made clear that I am prepared to work with the Protestant fee-charging schools to identify particular problems and issues that may be arising in some of their schools, or in respect of some students in their schools, and to examine how these might be addressed in a manner consistent with the Constitution. I believe that engagement between my officials and representatives of the Protestant schools is the best way to seek to resolve the issues that are of concern.
