Was Government right to scrap Holy Communion grant?

This week we asked our Facebook friends: was the Government right to scrap the grant for religious ceremonies such as First Holy Communions? Here’s an edited selection of the comments we received.

Mandie Walsh: Children should make their First Holy Communion and Confirmation in their uniforms, then nobody would struggle to clothe their kids. Too much taxpayers’ money goes into funding unnecessary expenditure.

Esther Newcombe Mahon: I’m glad it’s scrapped. I hope the money is spent where it’s needed more.

Ingrid Dunne: There are people who depend on that money and then there are people who abuse it, but that is always the case. I remember years ago you had to bring receipts for things to the CWO but now they just give out money with no proof on where it is spent – and it’s usually in the local pub!

Sandie McDermott: Church and State are far too intertwined in this backward country. Get rid of this altogether. No one should be spending e300 on a dress for an eight-year-old to wear once.

Sinead Whelan: If you choose to send your child to a Catholic school, why should the taxpayers pay towards dresses/outfits that the church expects them to wear? Enough is enough

Neil Keegan: Why doesn’t the church subsidise the costs? After all, both ceremonies are more in its interest than the country’s.

Frances Mansfield: Never knew of its existence. Glad it’s scrapped. Plenty of affordable communion dresses only used once in many shops. Robes should be used, then every child is the same and it’s not a fashion parade.

Sinead Coleman Coates: Never heard of such an allowance till it was scrapped.

Lynn McDonald Byrne: Yes. We had a discussion last year and with or without the grant, parents are under too much pressure. My child’s school is considering going back to the old fashioned robes which are loaned out – and every child looks the same. Money could be spent on more important things.

Robin O’Connor: Absolutely yes.

Marie O’Malley: Yes, it’s a waste of money.

Suzanne O’Donnell: Yeah, sure they need to cut all the little allowances for struggling families so that they don’t have to take any cuts themselves. Sure they need to keep themselves in the type of lifestyle they’re used to.

Tara Smyth: Children should wear robes or uniforms – then it’s a level playing field. It’s bad enough when they go back to school and compare how much they got!

Cormac Smyth: There was a grant? Seriously?

Joanna Dziworska: Yes and no. Some people need them. On the other hand, this should be for the child and this is communion, not a fashion show. If you want to support families, give coupons instead of money.

Kuba Madzelewski: I wouldn’t mind getting some nice

?¬200 binge allowance please.

Piotr Alma: You are talking about a

?¬2m (last year

?¬1.5m) one-off payment from the State budget. Yep, it might destroy this country.

Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Dublinpeople or follow us on Twitter @dublinpeople