Sir, - There were suggestions after the divorce referendum that the Church/State debate in the Irish Republic was drawing to a close.
This myth has been demolished by the Costello High Court ruling on school chaplains (The Irish Times, January 18th). Despite the Constitution's ban on the endowment of religion, the State will continue to pay for church chaplains in schools, at a cost of some £1.2 million to the taxpayer.
And community schools, previously claimed to be multi denominational, have been officially classified as Catholic schools by the High Court.
Moreover, Mr Justice Costello has ruled that the State has a duty to pay for the religious formation" of children.
So much for secularism. "New Ireland" is clearly a long way off yet. - Yours, etc
Hillsborough,
Co Down.