Madam, - The Catholic Church has been the mainstay of our excellent education system for nearly 200 years, at both primary and secondary levels - for which we owe a large debt of gratitude. Thus the majority of schools in our education system reflect the Catholic ethos and, according to the census, so does the population of the State.
Is it not perfectly reasonable that the Catholic Church should seek to look after the education of its own members, in the first instance, within the education system which it has effectively developed and supported, with very little State assistance until relatively recently?
Some of your correspondents advocate the complete removal of the Church from education. On balance I think most of the population, of whatever faith, are quite happy with the present balance between the roles of the State and church.
The fact that there are difficulties in providing school places at Balbriggan and other areas around Dublin reflects poor planning and infrastructural development on the part of the State. But we knew that when we voted in this Government for a third term in a row! - Yours, etc,
TIM HENNESSY,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.