HC Deb 25 May 1891 vol 353 cc971-2
MR. D. SULLIVAN (Westmeath, S.)

I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether the National school teachers of Ireland are obliged by law to fill up the school Census forms which have been left in their schools; and under what Act of Parliament this obligation arises?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN,) Dublin University

The 4th section of the Census Act, 1890, enacts that the Census shall be taken by means of the forms which were issued under the authority of the Census Act of 1880. One of these forms is a Return of scholars attending schools, which is, I presume, the form referred to in this question.

MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman think so himself?

MR. MADDEN

I have stated the provisions made by the Act of 1890 for taking the Census.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Does he think that the section in question throws the duty upon the National school teachers?

MR. MADDEN

It would be quite impossible to carry out the provisions of the 4th section of the Act unless those school forms are filled up.

MR. T. M. HEALY

I presume that the right hon. Gentleman, as Member for Trinity College, Dublin, is aware of the discussion which has been raised upon the question?

MR. MADDEN

I offer no opinion as to the expediency or policy of the legislation. All I say is, that the Census must be taken in accordance with the terms of the Act, one of which was that there should be a Return of the number of scholars in the schools.