§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that tenders to build a new lecture theatre at Marlborough Street, Dublin, were invited by the Board of National Education on 2nd May, and that four tenders were submitted; and that when revised tenders, omitting part of the work, were invited, the two contractors whose tenders in the first instance were the lowest were not invited to submit revised estimates; whether he is aware that the two contractors thus passed over are Roman Catholics; and can he state why the usual practice was not followed in this case.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WYNDHAM,) DoverI am informed by the National Board of Education that eight tenders were submitted to the Board. The Commissioners, having scrutinised the tenders, decided to alter the original plans, and having selected, after careful consideration, and in the exercise of their discretion, the firms that they thought would most satisfactorily carry out the altered requirements, the Commissioners invited 1156 these firms to submit amended tenders. The religious denominations of those who tendered were not inquired into by the Commissioners, nor known to them.
§ MR. DILLONasked on what principle the selection of the firms to tender was made.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe Board has power to exercise discretion in the matter, and I have no right to press for further information than they choose to give.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)Were the altered tenders advertised?
§ MR. WYNDHAMNo; apparently two firms were invited to tender on the altered specifications.