Fr Paddy Rushe is the current Dundalk IT chaplain
Atheist Ireland have hit out at Dundalk IT for spending €30,000 of state funds towards the provision of a Catholic chaplaincy service.
The group obtained details through a Freedom of Information request on the amount DkIT pays to employ full-time chaplain Fr Paddy Rushe.
They also learned that €1,200 per year is paid to Presbyterian chaplain Reverend Stanley Millen to make himself available to students if required.
Concerns about the chaplaincy were raised earlier this year after a student complained about receiving emails from Fr Rushe.
Atheist Ireland claims that the payment breaches Article 44.2.2 of the Irish Constitution, which says that “the State guarantees not to endow any religion,” thus prohibiting the funding of a specific church using public funds.
They insist that no decision was ever recorded by the college’s board to make these annual payments and that no tender was issued or process followed to allow other religious or secular bodies to offer pastoral services to students.
