MR. J. H. M'CARTHYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to a statement made at the meeting of the Council of the Gaelic Union in Dublin on Saturday last, to the effect that—
There was reason to believe that strong influence had been brought to bear on many National teachers to discourage the teaching of Irish;whether such influence had been used by any officials of the Government; and, whether the Government will take steps to insure that no such influence is brought to bear upon National teachers to discourage the teaching of the Irish language?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe Commissioners of National Education are not aware, nor am I aware, of any influence being brought to bear upon any national teachers to discourage the teaching of Irish. The Commissioners, in a recent issue of the school programme, to which the special attention of their Inspectors has been called, have issued special instructions that if there are Irish-speaking pupils in a school the teacher, if acquainted with the Irish language, should, whenever practicable, employ the vernacular as an aid to the elucidation and acquisition of the English language.