School chaplains get $243m over 4 years

The federal government is providing almost a quarter of a billion dollars to continue the school chaplains program even though it could be overturned in the High Court.

The budget allocates funding of $243.8 million over the next four years.

Under this program, all Australian schools can apply for $20,000 grants towards the cost of employing a school chaplain.

More disadvantaged schools take priority and an additional $4000 is available to schools in remote areas.

The government said this delivered on an election promise.

Only last week, the High Court heard a challenge to this program, launched by Queensland father Ron Williams, who says there's no place in public schools for non-secular programs.

Former prime minister John Howard launched the controversial program - which aims to provide guidance to students - in the leadup to the 2007 election.

The High Court upheld Mr Williams' initial legal challenge against the program in a landmark decision in 2012, but the Labor government quickly passed fresh legislation to keep it going.

Should Mr Williams' challenge be upheld, legal experts believe it could have far-reaching effects for the commonwealth's ability to fund a range of measures beyond the school chaplains program.

High Court judges are now considering their decision.