MR. O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that the provision in the Royal University Statutes against students holding scholarships, or other similar prizes, at the same time in the University and in the Queen's Colleges is evaded by the practice of paying, at the termination of the College Session in June the amount of scholarships which are awarded in October, for one year, thus enabling students to compete for University prizes in September, before the legal term of Queen's College scholarships has expired; how many students of the Queen's Colleges have won University prizes in this manner; and, whether the practice is an infringement of the University Statutes; and, if so, whether steps will be taken for its discontinuance?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, I have received letters from the Presidents of the respective Queen's Colleges emphatically denying that such evasion takes place. The present arrangements by which scholarships are obtained—and they are obtained by three instalments 286 at fixed times—Christmas, Easter, and June or July—existed long before the establishment of the Royal University, and no change has been introduced. The academical year commence, as it has always done, in October, and ends in June or July.
MR. O'BRIENMr. Speaker, in order to get at the root of this matter, I bag to give Notice that I will move for a Return of the names of the students of the Queen's Colleges who obtained the scholarships in the past two sessions, and the number of marks obtained by each.