STATE funding for private schools should be diverted to education for the less well off, the Minister for Social Welfare told a conference in Dublin.
Mr De Rossa said the shortage of funds available to post Leaving Cert course (PLC) students and others contrasted with the "anomalous" position of post primary, fee charging schools.
"These schools, which of their nature are exclusive and elite, continue to receive substantial levels of State funding," he said.
"I continue to believe that targeting public resources in education in accordance with need dictates a reduction in resourcing for elite, private schools and the switching of resources to areas where it is urgently needed, areas such as pre schooling, the PLC sector and adult education."
Mr De Rossa was addressing a Democratic Left conference on education, on the theme of "Securing their Future".
Calling for a "modern legal framework" for education, the Minister said it was time for all political parties to consider constitutional changes. This should be part of the next programme for government, he added.
He blamed the 1937 Constitution for "fossilising" some of the State's education structures and said it was unacceptable for legislators to be hidebound by 60 year old contradictory and uncertain constitutional provisions when seeking to build a framework for education into the 21st century".
One addition to the Constitution, he suggested, should be a positive statement of the child's right to free primary and post primary education.
Another would resolve the "apparent constitutional contradictions" on denominational education. But Mr De Rossa said that this and his party's stance on the Employment Equality Bill did not mean he was hostile towards denominational education.
"Quite the contrary - if parents wish to choose denominational education for their children they should be entitled to do so. But the corollary also applies, that if parents choose multi denominational or non denominational education they are also entitled to do so.
"And the workers in denominational institutions as well as nondenominational or multi denominational institutions are also entitled to have their rights as citizens fully, respected by those institutions.
The Minister also supported the establishment of local education boards. Rather than damaging the vibrant VEC sector, he said, this would enhance local democracy.
