§ MR. SEXTONI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland when he will state to the House the proposals of the Government with regard to Primary Education in Ireland; and if he is able to give the House any definite idea of the plan?
§ COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if 10s. per child will be paid to school authorities in Ireland, or to the teachers of primary schools in Ireland, as it is proposed to do under the present English Bill for England; and if all school fees under 3d. per week will he abolished in Ireland, as it is proposed to do in England?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe intention of the Government, generally speaking, is to devote Ireland's share of the £2,000,000 to freeing elementary education in Ireland. There are difficulties, as the hon. Member can easily conjecture, to almost any course which could be suggested for carrying out the scheme, but my present idea is to allocate the money for Ireland on the general principles of the Bill adopted for England. I think that this opportunity should be taken by the House, when this large additional grant for education is being made, of dealing with the question of compulsory education in Ireland. It has long been recognised that compulsory education should be introduced into that country, and, though I do not say that the whole country is ripe for it, I think that something ought to be done on the occasion of the introduction of this Bill. The Bill, which embodies free education for Ireland and a partial scheme of compulsory education for Ireland, cannot well be described as non-controversial in character, and therefore I am afraid it is not possible that the Bill should be passed this year. But perhaps, at the same time, it would be convenient to lay the Bill on the Table of the House in the present Session, if only for the purpose of giving hon. Members an opportunity during the Recess of considering the proposals of the Government. I need not say that I shall be glad to hear from gentlemen of all shades of opinion what their views may be on the subject. With regard to the question put down by the hon. and gallant Member for Galway with respect to the financial character of the scheme, I have only to say that I do not think that the sum allocated to Ireland could be, or ought to be, equal to a 3d. fee or 10s. per head. A 2d. fee, which is equivalent to about 7s., would absorb £175,000, and the minimum grant to Ireland would beabout£180,000. 26 If my idea of a partial system of compulsory education is carried into effect, no doubt the attendance in the schools will be increased, and probably much more than the £175,000, which would now cover a 2d. fee, would be required for the purpose. But I do not think that in any case the sum would reach the figure mentioned by the hon. and gallant Gentleman.
§ MR. SEXTONPending the consideration of this large and contentious Bill, I presume that some sort of arrangement will be made for the appropriation of Ireland's share on a principle analogous to that adopted for England.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIreland cannot be deprived of the money because the Government has not time to discuss an Education Bill for Ireland. The only question is, How is the money to be applied? The general principle which I should lay down would be to apply it to a matter about which there is not much controversy, and which would not take much time. There are objections attaching to any plan for handing over to any body in Ireland a sum of money for one year for purposes which are not confined to the year. To do so would excite expectations which cannot be fulfilled, and when the money is taken away, as it must be when this Education Bill is passed, much disappointment will be created. I think the best plan will be to hand over the money for this year to the reserve fund under the Land Department Bill, so that the £200,000, of which that reserve fund will ultimately consist, and which is to be accumulated out of the £40,000 a year for five years, will be reached at an earlier date, and the general ratepayers will reap the advantage.
§ MR. SEXTONWill the matter come before the House in the form of a Resolution?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNot while the Education Bill is under consideration.
§ COLONEL NOLANWould it not be better to increase the salaries of class teachers in the present year?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURWe had better not use this money at all for education until we can agree as to the scheme for allocation.