HC Deb 03 May 1904 vol 134 cc257-8
MR. BOLAND

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in framing the new Education Code, he will arrange to include the Irish language as an optional subject in view of the fact that in a number of schools throughout the country Irish children are predominant in number, and in view of its literary value.

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Sir WILLIAM ANSON,) Oxford University

Article 16 of the existing Code permits, where it is found desirable, the inclusion in the course of instruction of other subjects besides those actually mentioned in the Code. This provision will be retained in the forthcoming Code, and I do not think that anything further is necessary.

MR. BOLAND

May I ask if it is possible to include the Irish language in the new Code?

SIR WILLIAM ANSON

was understood to reply that it was not possible to do so in so many words, but under the provisions of the Code it was allowable to treat certain subjects as optional, and this might come under that head.