§ MR. M'CARTAN () Down, S.I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Board of Commissioners of National Education in Ireland have received a letter from the Gaelic League urging the desirability of conserving the Irish language in the schools in the interest of the poor people of Ireland, as is now done with the Welsh language in Wales with the approval of the Committee of Council on Education for Great Britain; whether he will say what answer has been sent; and if under the circumstances he will take the whole matter into favourable consideration.
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. G. W. BALFOUR)The Commissioners have received the letter referred to in the first paragraph. The matter is now under their consideration. They are the proper authorities to deal with it in connection with the revision and alteration of the school programme shortly to be carried out.