Church and state finances are dependent on assets’ true value

THE Department of Education has spent over €38 million buying school sites from organs of the Catholic Church in Ireland.

The vast bulk of the trades (€29m) have taken place since 2000 and have involved diocesan authorities, parishes and religious orders.

The overall figure does not include another €2.9m worth of sites which were transferred to the department by the Sisters of Mercy as part of its contribution to the initial redress indemnity deal.