HC Deb 11 June 1891 vol 354 cc163-4
COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if the first six months of the Irish share of the surplus should be devoted to any other object than education, will he do anything to relieve the pressing necessities of the Irish teachers from some other fund; can he state what is the present relative pecuniary position of the Irish teacher as compared with the English teacher; if he contemplates leaving Irish parents to pay school pence for six months longer than English parents; and if the Government would introduce a short temporary Bill distributing the Irish share of the surplus for six months on the same lines as in the English Bill, and leaving the settlement of details to the Lord Lieutenant?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not think it would be possible to obtain the information asked for by the hon. and gallant Gentleman in the second paragraph of the question, but I will make inquiries. The English teachers are paid by the managers, and are not paid directly by the State, as they are in Ireland. There are obviously grave objections to the proposal of the hon. and gallant Member that a Bill should be introduced. If the measure raised the whole question of education in Ireland, there would obviously not be time enough this Session for its adequate consideration. If, on the other hand, it was passed without discussion, it might ultimately prove not to be acceptable, and in that case arrangements made under it might have to be modified, with the result that the teachers would be caused disappointment.

In answer to a further question by Colonel NOLAN,

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said: The hon. and gallant Member will see that under a Bill framed on the lines suggested in the question the Lord Lieutenant would have absolute control over the money voted for the teachers, and would have to adopt a certain plan in dealing with that money. If ultimately that plan should not prove to be acceptable to the House, the claims established by the temporary distribution of the money during six months might be set aside, with the result that great discontent would be caused amongst the teachers.

MR. SEXTON

Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to proceed by Amendment or by a Supplementary Estimate?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Either by estimate or otherwise, but not by a separate Bill; nor can it be dealt with in the Bill now before the House.