§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL (Kerry, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will explain why, in the recent regulations issued by the National Board, steps were taken to prevent the teaching of Irish in primary schools as an extra subject.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI am informed by the Commissioners that they have recently issued revised programmes in extra subjects, including the Irish language, which it is proposed to bring into operation on the 1st April, 1904. If, however, managers of National Schools are not satisfied with these programmes they are at liberty to submit alternative programmes for the approval of the Commissioners. The programmes and regulations were not issued with the intention of preventing the teaching of extra subjects, but, on the contrary, to make instruction in these subjects more efficient.