HC Deb 26 April 1901 vol 92 cc1452-3
MR. M'GOVERN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Fermanagh Roman Catholic Board of Education acknowledge any obligation to give effect to the proposal, dated 20th October, 1886, of their late chairman undertaking to spend half the Roman Catholic portion of the endowment in maintaining an intermediate school in Enniskillen; and, if so, when they propose carrying out that proposal; whether he is aware that the present chairman of the Board sent a written statement to the Commissioners of Education, dated 3rd January, 1900, stating that now that it is known that the Roman Catholics of Enniskillen desire an intermediate school in their town it may be taken for granted that no effort will be spared to have that wish satisfied; and, whether any steps have been since taken to carry out this undertaking; and, if not, what reasons exist why it should not be carried out.

MR. WYNDHAM

The Commissioners are not aware that the Fermanagh Roman Catholic Board of Education has made any such acknowledgment as that suggested. The Bishop of Clogher, who subsequently became chairman of the board, wrote a letter in January, 1900, which suggested that, if a local fund was raised in Enniskillen, it would be possible to establish an intermediate school. No further steps seem to have been taken, and the powers of the Fermanagh Board under the scheme have lapsed.