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Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 June 2014

Tuesday, 24 June 2014

Questions (222)

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

222. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered undertaking a cost-benefit analysis of the decision to increase the pupil-teacher ratio for private schools from 19:1 to 23:1, which is resulting in some schools moving from fee-paying to a free scheme at a substantial cost to the taxpayer; his views on whether his actions are fair to the minority Protestant faith in that the previous funding model helped the continuity of these schools to achieve parity and maintain this service for the minority population within this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27198/14]

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Written answers

My Department has no plans to undertake a cost benefit analysis of the type suggested by the Deputy. The Constitution does not allow either the positive or negative discrimination of schools based on their religious ethos. Second level schools such as Kilkenny College, and previously Wilson's Hospital, have demonstrated that they believe they can maintain and promote their Church of Ireland ethos through the Free Second Level scheme and there are five protestant comprehensive schools that do not charge fees.

Protestant fee charging schools have been treated in Budgetary terms in exactly the same way as all other religious ethos schools in a manner consistent with the Constitution. The Department is open to having discussions with any other fee charging school of Protestant ethos on transitioning to the free scheme and will look at each case sympathetically and in detail.

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