For an Irish student looking to attend Dublin's Wesley College, fees will range between €6,250 and €8,750 a year.
A secondary school education that promises to "first and foremost serve the needs of its pupils," Minster for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross managed to incite the ire of many when he announced the government's intention to enhance Wesley's efforts further still.
Delighted to confirm that @wesleycollege has been granted €150,000 as part of Sports Capital Programme. The funding will ensure the resurfacing of the hockey pitch and will benefit the school as well as @YMCAHC pic.twitter.com/HlPSK0mUoA
— Shane Ross (@Ross_Shane1) March 9, 2018
The Sports Capital Programme Ross references falls under a scheme run by the Department of which he is the head.
Interestingly, of the three "objectives" it lists for this grant scheme, the intention to "prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of sports facilities."
A glimpse of the college's Twitter account would suggest that the sprawling array of sporting fields at their disposal renders them an inappropriate recipient on this basis.
However, the porgramme similarly lays out a provision for "VECs and schools to develop high quality, safe, well-designed, sustainable facilities in appropriate locations and to provide appropriate equipment to help maximise participation in sport and physical recreation."
This has not been taken into much consideration by the majority of those responding to the news however.
Delighted the cash strapped struggling poor students of the wez have a state of the art hockey pitch to play on, poor souls
— Mick Fallon☘ 🟢⚪ (@mhoop01) March 9, 2018
Brilliant news. Just going down to tell the kids living in the hotel that the private school got sorted !!!
— Alan Murphy (@murphal) March 10, 2018
Very nice. Very happy for them. Our athletics club could do with a few quid for a club house or a proper running track. Suppose we'll just have to make do with the porta cabin and the big field to run around.
— John Dixon (@Johnnydeelite) March 9, 2018
Honestly thought this was #Waterfordwhispers. Although, it’s too preposterous even for a satirical site.
— Robert Fay (@robtomfay) March 10, 2018
Wow, good news for the students and parents who can afford to fund such things themselves. Our school is trying to tarmac a yard but is relying on parents funding it.....
— Joy Division Oven Gloves (@ScouseShels) March 10, 2018
This is great news while the church sell my local pre School for 150k and put 66 kids out of pre school, but hockey is important too....
— Alan Keller (@kelleab1983) March 10, 2018
Although Ross cannot necessarily be blamed for promoting such work within his constituency, further tweets demonstrated the extent of money from this programme going to organisations in this area.
Good news today for Three Rock Rovers HC @TRRHC , its volunteers and the whole community- €150,000 #sportsgrant pic.twitter.com/WpzaioOt9q
— Shane Ross (@Ross_Shane1) March 9, 2018
Pleased to have announced €150,000 for resurfacing of all-weather pitch at Loreto Beaufort... this will improve playing conditions for students and @LoretoHC members. #sportsgrant #letskeepactive pic.twitter.com/7jgaDG4626
— Shane Ross (@Ross_Shane1) March 9, 2018
Problematically however, it is difficult to fathom how three different bodies were awarded a combined €450,000 to resurface pitches seemingly all serving the same purpose; more so due to the fact that all three are within a short drive of each other.
