The Scottish Government has been challenged to prove tackling sectarianism is a priority, by allocating cash to forge closer links between denominational and non-denominational schools.
Anniesland MSP Bill Butler is calling on ministers to use money returned by the Scottish Islamic Foundation to be used to reinstate a fund for school twinning projects, scrapped in 2008.
The MSP has told ministers the £128,000 from the SIF is more than enough to reinstate the £100,000 twinning fund.
The organisation paid back cash last year after events it was earmarked for were cancelled.
In an answer to where the cash would be spent, Mr Butler was told by Communities Minister Alex Neil it would be used to meet Government priorities.
Mr Butler said: “There has been a worrying lack of direction in anti-sectarianism policy since 2007 and nowhere is this more obvious than the decline in the number of twinning projects between schools.
“Education has to be at the very core of any successful anti-sectarianism strategy.
“Given that ministers have yet to announce how they will re-allocate the SIF cash and have stated that any decision will be made in ‘line with current ministerial priorities’, I am urging them to show that defeating sectarianism is a priority for this Government by restoring the £100,000 twinning fund in full.”
In answer to Mr Butler’s question, Mr Neil said: “All funding has to be used in line with current ministerial priorities and we will also consider how broader priorities could be supported. No decisions have been made at this time.”
Mr Butler also wants the remainder of the SIF cash to be used to extend an anti-sectarianism project dealing with young offenders convicted of sectarian-related crimes.
He added: “Given that, on average, there are 338 convictions for sectarian offences each year, the remaining £28,000 should be used to ‘roll out’ the rehab project currently being delivered by the Iona Community at Polmont.
“By taking these sensible steps we can put the fight against sectarianism back on the rails.”
