Press Releases
Archbishop Slams "Unbelievable Lack of Understanding" By Department of Education
Speaking at the launch of a history of Kilkenny College (entitled "Where Swift and Berkeley Learnt" by Lesley Whiteside with Andrew Whiteside) on Friday 24 April 2009 the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr John Neill criticised "the very discriminatory nature of the cuts in last year's educational budget" and their effect on Protestant Schools.
He continued, "In spite of every effort made by schools, by management bodies and by bishops, there is an unbelievable lack of understanding in the Department of Education and Science of the fact that previous governments have recognised the specific needs of providing education within their own ethos for a vibrant but scattered Protestant population. As Lesley Whiteside rightly reminds us that across the middle years of the last century, the Church of Ireland community regained a great sense of confidence in a Republic which was becoming more truly inclusive, and this same community has increased significantly in numbers and self assurance of recent years. It is very sad that at this same time, there should be a blindness to the needs of Protestant schools, a need which was fully recognised by all previous administrations."
Diocesan Communications Officer, Dublin & Glendalough
087 2356472
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Lynn Glanville
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