§ MR. FLYNN (Cork Co, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the estimated number of children the Cork Model Schools were constructed to accommodate, and the number now in daily average attendance, 696 and the annual cost per child at present; and whether, in view of the public meeting of the citizens held on the 10th instant in regard to these schools and the claim of the Technical Instruction Committee, he will state what steps the Commissioners of National Education are prepared to take in view of the expenses incurred by the Technical Instruction Committee.
§ THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. ATKINSON,, for Mr. WYNDHAM) Londonderry, N.The Cork Model Schools were built to accommodate 1,226 pupils. In 1902 there were 359 pupils on the rolls and 260 in average daily attendance. The expenditure on the schools in 1902 was £1,819 18s. 4d. This, divided by the average attendance for the past year, gives a sum of £7 per pupil. But this money is not all expended on the pupils. The schools are normal schools for the training of pupil teachers and are a centre for the training of national teachers in elementary science, hand and eye work, cookery, and other extra branches. The circumstances under which the Commissioners decided to require possession of the school premises from the Technical Instruction Committee were mentioned in my right hon. friend's reply to a Question put to him on the 18th December last.† The matter was again before the Commissioners on the 31st March, when they decided to adhere to their determination.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)Inasmuch as the Technical Instruction Committee, which got possession of a portion of this building last January, is now under notice of eviction from the National Board may I ask whether the Irish Government would make some representation to the Board to postpone the eviction until the Irish Education Estimates, come on when an opportunity will be had of discussing the matter.
§ MR. ATKINSONAs I understand, the point in dispute between the Committee and the Commissioners is this: The Technical Instruction Committee got
† See (4) Debates, cxvi, 1631.697 permission to occupy the premises temporarily. They thereupon decided upon making alterations of the structure entirely at variance with the general scheme of the premises. And therefore the Commissioners required them to leave. I do not think it is in the power of the Irish Government to coerce or force the Board.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDOf course, I recognise there is no power to coerce the Commissioners, but inasmuch as the matters in dispute are of such enormous importance as to require discussion in this House, will the Irish Government re present to the Commissioners the necessity of postponing for a month the eviction of the Committee so that we shall have an opportunity of discussing this matter?
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)May I ask whether it is a fact that this body, which spends £1,300,000 of Irish money annually, is a body over which the Government has no control.
§ MR. ATKINSONI think the hon. Gentleman is perfectly well aware of that circumstance.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLI should not have asked if I had known.
§ MR. ATKINSONI will communicate with my right hon. friend the Chief Secretary on the matter.
§ MR. FLYNNIs it not a fact that the Local Government Board Inspector was sent down on behalf of the Commissioners and certified that the alterations were satisfactory and that no structural alterations were intended, and that the Committee have spent £700 already upon the building.
§ MR. ATKINSONI must ask the hon. Member to put that Question down upon the Paper.
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork Co., E.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Borough Council and the County Council have both protested against the high-handed action of the Commissioners.
§ MR. ATKINSONBoth bodies are anxious to get this school for their own purposes.