CHURCH OF Ireland Archbishop of Dublin Dr Michael Jackson is encouraging all fee-charging schools under church of Ireland management to participate in and co-operate with a Department of Education audit of how they spend their income.
The Irish Times reported earlier this week that Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has asked his officials to investigate how fee-paying schools spend the €120 million they receive from parents. The investigation – due to begin soon – will also examine State investment in these schools, including funding for teachers.
Dr Jackson said he welcomed the audit. “This initiative provides an opportunity for all such schools to show the ways in which fee-income is being used to supplement the resources of individual schools. I welcome also recognition in the reporting of this issue of the need to maintain a network of schools to enable students of minority denominations to attend a school which lives out, on a daily basis, the Christian ethos through the characteristic spirit of a particular denomination,” he said.
The Teachers’ Union of Ireland has already welcomed the audit.