§ MR. WARDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether, having regard to the Report of the Royal Commission in 1870 on Primary Education in Ireland, that "the Model Schools have failed to accomplish the objects of their institution, and that the cost of their further maintenance is not justified by the result produced," and their recommendation that the existing provincial Model Schools "should be gradually discontinued," Her Majesty's Government will give legal effect to the recommendations of the Commission; and, whether they will consider the advisability of applying the money now expended on the Model School system to the development of Intermediate Education in Ireland?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in reply, said, no doubt, before the Government could propose any scheme in reference to intermediate education, it would be necessary to consider the position of the model schools. The Government would pay every possible attention to the recommendations which had been made by the Commissioners, but it was not the intention of the Government to give effect to them. He would add that the model schools were considered to be 853 of great importance in certain parts of Ireland, where they did, to a great extent, what was necessary for the purposes of secondary education.
§ MR. WARDgave Notice that he would next Session draw attention to the Report of the Commissioners, in reference to intermediate education in Ireland.