§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Wexford, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if the Government propose to find the money for the repairs of the damage done to the residences of national school teachers in Ireland by the storm of February last, in view of the fact that the Board of Works and the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland state that they have no funds available for that purpose.
(Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) Residences vested in the Commissioners of National Education are kept in repair by the Board of Works at the expense of the State. The repair of residences which are not the property of the State but are vested in trustees or are the property of private individuals rests with the owners. The Government could not provide funds for the repair of residences of the latter class without legislation involving a modification of the National School Teachers' Residences (Ireland) Act, 1875. The Government cannot undertake to introduce such legislation.