§ MR. FLAVINI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a feeling exists in many portions of Ireland owing to the fact that the teaching of Irish is not a compulsory subject in national schools; and whether, seeing that the Kerry County Council unanimously passed a resolution asking that Irish should be made the general medium of instruction, representations will be made to the National Board with a view of giving effect to this resolution, so as to make the teaching of Irish a compulsory subject within the regular school hours.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURI have received a good many resolutions from public bodies in Ireland on this subject. The matter is one for the consideration of the Commissioners of National Education, and not one for the intervention of the Executive.
§ MR. FLAVINWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last paragraph of my question?
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURI have received no representations on the subject.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENHave the National Commissioners under the new rules altered the conditions as to the teaching of the Irish language in Irish elementary schools?
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURThe hon. Gentleman had better await the issue of the rules.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)Is there any "Commissioner of National Education'' this House?
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURThe Commissioners have no direct representative in this House.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWhen will the rules be issued?
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURI am informed it will not be possible to issue them tomorrow, but a few copies will be available in the Vote Office for Irish Members.