MR. P. O'BRIENOn behalf of the hon. Member for the St. Patrick Division of Dublin I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Educa- 920 tion whether, seeing that the attendance at science and art classes in Ireland has fallen from 13,600 in 1893 to 9,556 in 1896, the Government will be prepared to accept and carry out the suggestion made in the House to transfer the control of science and art instruction in Ireland to an Irish Department?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURAt the request of my right hon. Friend, I will reply to this Question. The Government have the matter under consideration. But I am not prepared to make any further statement on the subject at present.