§ MR. KENNEDY (Westmeath, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the managers of a number of national schools in Ireland have provided cooking stoves and other appliances to give effect to the programme for instruction for cookery, particularly those for girls in the higher standards, prescribed by the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland for the present financial year; that in the notes to teachers issued by the Commissioners in November, 1902, it was intimated that instruction by practice in the simple forms of food preparation would be continued for some years; and, whether, seeing that the Commissioners have eliminated from their programme for the coming year practical instruction for cookery, particularly in the higher standards, except for convent schools, and in view of the expense that has been incurred, the Commissioners will apply the new programme for cookery in fifth and 1014 higher standards to all rural schools so equipped where the manager applies for same, on the ground that the arrangements for instruction in cookery by itinerant instructors are insufficient.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) I am informed by the Board of National Education that provision for instruction in domestic economy in national schools is at present the subject of communication between the Board and the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction. It is not practicable, therefore, at present to add anything to the statement made in the introduction to the new programme. Cases, however, like that referred to in the Question will have the, fullest consideration.