The State's two main Opposition parties are at odds today over figures showing considerable growth in private schools pupils over the past 20 years.
While the Labour Party believes there should be a review of the €85 million paid to such schools each year, Fine Gael believes a reduction could be counterproductive.
New figures reported in the Irish Independenttoday show one-in-three pupils in Dublin attending a private secondary school compared to one-in-four pupils 20 years ago.
There are 58 fee-paying schools in the State 35 of which are in Dublin and all the main ones recorded large increases in pupil numbers.
St Andrews secondary school in Booterstown recorded a 63 per cent increase; Loretto, Foxrock was up 59 per cent and Castleknock College was up 50 per cent, the newspaper reported..
In contrast, pupil numbers have dropped at State schools, particularly those run by Christian Brothers. Private schools now take in 32 per cent of all students in Dublin, compared to 24 per cent in 1983-84.
Labour's education spokeswoman Ms Jan O'Sullivan said the trend would accelerate unless there was Government intervention.
"Considering the difficulties in financing the public sector, I think we have to question the amount of money going to private schools," she said.
While recognising that some private schools cater for pupils from religious minorities, she said "the payment of generous financial support to exclusive private schools that are not open to the majority of pupils is difficult, in principle, to justify".
But Fine Gael education spokesperson, Ms Olwyn Enright warned against assuming that fee-paying schools were creating educational disadvantage.
She said the private schools save the State money because they do not receive funding for school buildings and their maintenance. Science, sports and library facilities is are also met from their own pockets, she said.
"Instead of taking the soft option, and attacking fee-paying schools we need to find out why these schools are often perceived as better and work to ensure that all second- level schools are perceived as offering a high standard," she said.
The Minster for Education, Mr Dempsey, later confirmed an ongoing review into State payments to private schools but said there was no great demand for change in the area.
"In the morning, I could declare that I would remove this subsidy for teachers [in private schools]. Then if they were all to become non-fee paying schools, I would be paying out almost the equivalent of €85 million in direct capitation fees," he said.
The Association of Secondary Teacher of Ireland (ASTI) said the growth of private schools reflected the country's increased prosperity.
ASTI board member and past president Mr Pat Cahill said: "People have a lot more money now and they believe when they're paying for something, it's better. In actual fact, that may not be the case."
Additional reporting PA