§ MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can now state whether it is the intention of the Government to apply the Irish equivalent of the Educational Grant of £900,000 to educational purposes in Ireland; and, if not, to what purposes it is to be devoted.
(Answer.) It was decided by Parliament in 1897 that educational expenditure could not be dealt with by way of equivalent grants specifically allocated to that purpose, irrespective of existing educational needs and facilities. But as the proposed changes in the English Education Bill will involve a considerable additional charge on the common exchequer for English purposes it will be necessary for His Majesty's Government to consider what may be the requirements of Ireland for further expenditure either in the matter of education or for other objects, and to make reasonable proposals to Parliament for meeting them. I shall not be able to make any further announcement until there has been sufficient time for such a full examination of the subject as its importance demands.—(Irish Office.)