Pleading of fee-paying schools is a bit rich

LAST week we had a perfect example of how this country works.

It’s a tale of spin and of a political culture that reacts not to those in need, but to those who wield the power.

The thorny issue was fees for second-level schools. There are 56 fee-paying schools in the State, with 26,000 pupils. Twenty of the schools are of one of the Protestant faiths. The schools receive €95m from the State, most of it going on paying teachers.