HC Deb 19 August 1889 vol 339 cc1645-6
DR. KENNY (Cork, S.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a new rule of the Science and Art Department, to be found at page 56 of the Directory of Science and Art, 1889, to the effect— That no pupil or monitor in a school under the Commissioners of National Education, Ireland, who has not passed the second examination of the sixth class can be presented for examination or registered in subject xxiv. principles of agriculture, is likely to affect moat injuriously the teaching of agriculture in national schools in Ireland; whether this rule is within the powers of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to withdraw or modify; and, whether, in view of the great importance of agricultural instruction in a country circumstanced as Ireland is, where agriculture is the chief industry, he will recommend the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to withdraw the rule referred to and revert to the former practice, whereby pupils who had passed into the fourth class were eligible for instruction in agriculture, making such other arrangements as they may consider necessary to avoid overlapping payments, to prevent which the new rule was introduced?

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (MR. JACKSON, Leeds, N.)

I find that the alteration in the rules referred to by the hon. Member was made by the Science and Art Department in consultation with the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland, and the matter does not appear to be one which has been before the Treasury, or with which the Treasury should interfere.

MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)

Did not the Vice President of the Council promise some weeks ago in Supply to re-consider this question?

MR. JACKSON

I am quite aware of that; but no representations have been made to the Treasury, which cannot interfere with the business of another Department.