Irish Government powerless to stop funding school chaplains

Posted: Fri, 23rd Mar 2012


As Ireland sinks once more back into recession, the Department of Education has been told that it cannot legally cut state funding for school chaplains. The Department considered the move as part of recent cuts to school budgets. At present it spends €9m every year for the salaries of chaplains in community and comprehensive schools.

However, after taking legal advice, the Department was told that the payments were enshrined in the deed of trust that governs the schools and so had to continue.

The funding of salaries for school chaplains has been criticised lately, given the abolition of ring fenced funding for guidance counsellors in schools.

Tags: Public services