§ MR. FLYNN () Cork, E.I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is it the intention of the Government to permit poor law unions to contribute to the expense of national education under the Act of 1875 as heretofore; if not, will the teachers in contributory unions be secured the incomes they have hitherto enjoyed: and if unions that have been contributory are prepared to continue so, will the Government recoup them from the new grant as they formerly were recouped from the Customs and Excise Grant.
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. G. W. BALFOUR)The Board of National Education have in contemplation a scheme of reform under which, if adopted, results fees would be abolished. In that event the Act of 1875, which only enables guardians to contribute a certain proportion of the results fees, would have to be amended to enable guardians to contribute in another form if that was ultimately considered desirable. As was explained by my right hon. friend in his answer to a question of the hon. Member for East Donegal on the 13th instant, arrangements have been made under which the teachers will receive direct (out of the sum of £78,000 voted by Parliament) the sum which was formerly refunded to boards of guardians of contributory unions. The financial 1106 details of the scheme are still under consideration, but the intention is not to prejudice the interests of the teachers.