Madam, – I congratulate Ian French, governor of The King’s Hospital (October 29th) for having a scheme where 10 per cent of the school’s pupils from less well off families are funded by a means-tested Government grant which was available to Protestant schools.
This contrasts with fee-paying Catholic schools which wish to do exactly the same. Take for example Belvedere College SJ, where 10 per cent of the pupils are also from disadvantaged families, but in contrast the school has to raise over half a million euros per annum to fund the scholarship scheme. However, although this is not easy, especially at present, it does help to satisfy the school’s programme for social justice and enables these pupils to advance equally with their fee-paying colleagues to third-level education.
I am pleased that the Government has restored free third-level education because this will enable these scholarship pupils to continue their education, which they would not be able to do if this grant was removed.
However, I feel it should be means-tested so that more can be given to those who need it most. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Further to Cian Molloy’s letter (October 31st), perhaps a slight change of name from “The Church of Ireland” to “The Anglican Church of Ireland” or “The Irish Anglican Church” would help to confirm it as a forward-looking church, free from historical echoes and part of our modern, increasingly pluralistic society where there are a number of churches, none of which should claim to be “The” church of Ireland. – Yours, etc,