§ MR. BIGGARasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that, in 1879, a community of nuns opened a school at Kilbiggan West, Meath, building a schoolhouse at their own expense; whether the pupils from a neighbouring-National School unanimously removed to the Nuns' School; whether the Commissioners of National Education refused to recognize the Convent School 1533 till the Nuns had first paid £240, being the expense incurred in building the National School; and, whether he will take means to have this amount refunded?
§ MR. TREVELYANI am informed by the Commissioners of National Education that what occurred was as follows: —A vested National School was first in existence, and towards its erection and fitting up the Commissioners had made grants. Subsequently a community of nuns opened a school; and the Rev. Mr. Hope, who was manager of both the schools, closed up the girls' department of the old vested school, and removed its furniture to the new school conducted by the nuns. Then he made application to the Commissioners for grants to the Convent School, which were declined, on the ground that its establishment suppressed the vested school. Finally, the Rev. Mr. Hope proposed to repay the amount expended by the Commissioners in the erection and fitting up of the vested school-house, with a view of removing it from the category of vested schools, and thus getting rid of the bar to the making of the grant by the Commissioners to the Convent School. This proposal was accepted by the Commissioners, who accordingly made the grants to the Convent Schools, and even dated them from the time of the original application. It is impossible for the Commissioners to comply with the suggestion that they should again pay over the amount referred to.