Civil servants scramble to f igure out which department should shell out sacred costs
A PLEA from Catholic bishops for extra cash to stave off the winter chill left several senior civil servants feeling hot under the collar – because they couldn’t work out which Government department would deal with the request.
The issue arose after the bishops recently asked the Government to extend energy-cost supports to churches and parish halls.
They argued that, while there had been financial support in budget 2023 for households, businesses, sports organisations and voluntary organisations, there was nothing for non-grant-aided community facilities, such as parish centres, community halls and church buildings.
Many small local groups, including scouts, mother and baby clubs and active retirement groups use parish facilities for meetings.
According to the bishops, church buildings are also often used in winter by the homeless and vulnerable to keep warm and safe.
‘With soaring heating costs, the numbers seeking to spend part of their day in such settings can be expected to rise dramatically,’ the bishops stressed.
‘This means the related energy costs are also rising rapidly to the point where it is difficult to see how drastic closures can be avoided.
‘We urge Government to make assistance available so that these vital community resources can remain open on a sustainable basis throughout this stressful period,’ they added.
However, one senior Government source told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘The high-ups in the Taoiseach’s office, the Department of Public Expenditure (DPER), Finance, Business were all ringing around frantically saying “who is in charge of this lot [churches]”. ‘No-one seemed to know.
‘The last thing we need is some unholy row with the Church. It may not be dangerous, but it is embarrassing,’ they said.
Eventually the mandarins decided it was best to direct the request to the very top of the Government food chain.
One senior civil servant told the MoS: ‘A number of departments share responsibility for Church issues, be it schools, education or mothers and babies, but the Taoiseach’s department has ultimate line responsibility. ‘Micheál is the fellow who talks to the bishops. He likes doing that, so he is the line manager.’ The request sparked particular concern within Fianna Fáil given the age range of their supporters. One Government adviser said: ‘There was some angst in Fianna Fáil. That is their age group. A lot of calls were going into DPER.
‘The ministers don’t want to be getting calls or be berated by shivering pensioners.’
The crisis abated slightly after it emerged that Rural Affairs Minister Heather Humphreys is in charge of Church halls.
A source said: ‘The parish halls, cake sales, dances – all of that are safe. But it is going to get very complicated – it’s not just the Catholics and the Anglicans and the Presbyterians. There are the Mosques and the Humanists, and the atheists will make a terrible fuss if they are not included too. We have opened a Pandora’s box.’
‘The budget in Rural Affairs in that area is quite small; it’s just €10m. DPER has to find more, but we are hopeful Minister [Michael] McGrath will want to look after the elderly and rural communities where the Church is still such a focus point.
‘But if churches are to be included, a great deal more will have to be found.
‘There are quite a lot of churches and mosques in Ireland.’