A chara, – The argument that the State must provide extra funding for Protestant schools as they are for a minority religion has some interesting corollaries.
Firstly, any minority religion could make this argument and, according to the 2006 census, which includes 6.516 Buddhists, 6,082 Hindus and 1,691 Pantheists, there’s quite a lot of religions in the minority category.
Secondly, if “ethos” is a valid argument to get extra funding, could a group of vegetarians or Marxists create their own school and request extra funding to protect their own ethos? Thirdly, the largest religious minority in the same census isn’t a religion at all - it is the non-religious category, which amounts to 186,318 citizens. Surely, if they are the largest minority, they have strongest case for extra funding for an entirely non-religious ethos? – Is mise,
ALEX STAVELEY,
Donabate,
Co Dublin.
Madam, – I am deeply concerned at Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe’s approach.
He has dismantled a funding system introduced by the late Donogh O’Malley and which has been operational since the 1960s without any significant problems.
The consequence of this action is to change fundamentally the way the State views and treats minority faith schools. Already there is evidence of a loss of pupils and staff from these schools and their existence is under serious threat.
The Minister would do well to consider carefully the remarks of the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, in support of minority faith schools and pluralism in Ireland.
Fine Gael and the Labour Party have urged the Minister to reconsider and the eminent judge Catherine McGuinness has expressed support for the minority position. The Catholic Iona Institute issued a statement backing calls for a reversal of the cutbacks. Of those who have commented on the matter, a widely based majority would seem to be in support of the minority schools’ position.
Mr O’Keeffe needs to explain why he sought the advice of the Attorney General on a payment system to minority schools which was operational and unchallenged for 40 years.
He also needs to investigate the allegation that Protestant schools were told that they would be “got at” by the department.
The insensitivity of the Minister in dealing with this matter is in total contrast to the fair manner in which previous governments have treated minority schools.
The education cutbacks aimed specifically at Protestant schools will do much more harm than good. They will cause bitterness,distrust and job losses. They will also threaten the very existence of these schools. Only a complete reversal of these specifically targeted cubacks in funding will restore confidence. – Yours, etc,
