§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Government has resolved to alter the fundamental principle of the National system of education in Ireland in order to admit the schools of the Christian Brothers to the monetary advantages of connection with the National Board of Education; and whether he will be prepared to state to the House the terms and conditions upon which the said schools are to be admitted?
MR. J. MORLEYThe Government has come to no definite resolution on thin important subject, and the announce- 1149 ments which have been made are unauthorised and premature.
§ MR. SEXTONI wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the arrangements for the administration of the Compulsory Education Act, which will come into force on January 1, are in a, satisfactory state of advancement, and when the right hon. Gentleman expects to be in a position to give definite information respecting the Christian Brothers?
MR. J. MORLEYThe application of the Compulsory Clauses is a. matter of great difficulty in Ireland. I receive every day a bulletin of the replies of the Corporate Bodies on the subject, and I hope to be in a position to put myself in communication on the matter with the Commissioners of National Education within 10 days or a, fortnight. There will then be ample time to make provision for the application of the Act on the 1st of January, 1894. I do not say we shall be able to state the intentions of the Government with regard to the Christian Brothers before the end of this month, but we certainly hope to do so before the House rises.
§ MR. SEXTONMay we expect the information by the end of the month?
MR. J. MORLEYI do not say by the end of the month, but certainly it will lie before the House adjourns.