§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDETo ask the chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that the grant of tow-thirds of the cost of building new national schools in Ireland is made on an estimate of the cost of labour and materials of some thirty years ago, which estimate now barely equals one-half of the cost; and whether, in view of these circumstances, he will consider the advisability of increasing the grant to two-thirds of the actual cost, the increase to date from the commencement of 1903, so as to enable the building of new schools to be commenced immediately.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The question of a revision of the scale on which grants are made towards the erection of national school buildings has recently been inquired into by a Departmental Committee, which is now considering its report.