§ DR. TANNERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what was the proportion of local support to the total expenditure in Irish model schools for the year ending 31st March, 1889; what was the corresponding figure for all other Irish national schools; and can he state what objection the Government have to local support for national schools in Ireland?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Commissioners of National Education report that, for the year ended March 31, 1889, their total expenditure in respect to model schools was £27,358, and the total local 1554 aid (including school fees and rates in contributory unions) in support of model schools was £6,766. Their total expenditure in respect to ordinary national schools was £701,220, and the total local aid in support of ordinary national schools was £188,218. The above figures do not include expenditure by Board of Public Works on ordinary national schools or model schools. The Commissioners, far from having an objection to local support for national schools, have laid down in their rules that applicants for a grant to build a school must satisfy the Board that they—
Are prepared to raise by local contribution at least one-third of the whole sum which the Commissioners may deem necessary for the erection of the house, and providing furniture; and that when the school comes into operation, adequate local aid will be provided in augmentation of the teachers' emoluments from the Board.