Clarify the role of Protestants in providing education in Ireland into the future

The Bishop of Cork speaking at the Annual Convention of the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS) 1st April, in White’s Hotel, Wexford said that this is a time of great apprehension and uncertainty among Protestants involved in education.

Bishop Paul Colton, highlighted specific concerns, which, he asserted, are likely to have an unintended but disproportionate effect on minorities, such as Irish Protestants. 

He said: ‘Many in the Church of Ireland, including myself, are concerned that recent strategies and policies are, in reality, going to have disproportionate effects on our minority community. 

In particular we have concerns about

§ the proposed redeployment of surplus staff on a cross patronage basis at primary level;

§ the possible outcomes of the review of smaller schools by the ‘Value for Money’ working group; and that of school transport;

§ the withdrawal of ancillary grants and the increase in pupil-teacher ratio in Protestant voluntary second-level schools contrary to forty years of practice;

§ current indications that the level of capital funding to Protestant voluntary second-level schools may be reduced.’

Bishop Colton said that, as a result of recent decisions, many in the Church of Ireland are looking to the new Minister for Education and Skills to clarify what the State sees as being the role of Protestants in the provision of education in Ireland.  

He said: ‘We are looking to a new Minister to bring a fresh approach to these issues and to offer us the assurance that the new Government is committed to enabling the Protestant minority to continue to play a full part in sustaining a mature and pluralist society in Ireland through our role in the provision of education.  This is a matter of the utmost priority to the Church of Ireland and we are anxious to discuss with the new Minister, frankly, if and how he envisages Protestant schools playing a long term role in the future of Irish society.’

Referring to the new Taoiseach’s promise of ‘transparent Government’, the Bishop said that

‘… in that spirit, … it would assist the Protestant community greatly if the specific constitutional advice the previous Government received on the matter of Protestant education in Ireland … were openly made available to us.  It would facilitate dialogue, nurture trust and foster understanding.’

Source