§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY (Limerick, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the manager of the national schools in Kilmeedy, county Limerick, applied to the Board of National Education in Ireland for a grant-in-aid to build new schools there, which was promised in December, 1903; that subsequently, in 1904, the Board made it a condition that the boys under eight years of age attending the schools must be sent to the girls' school, and that, in the event of the average daily attendance in the boys' school not warranting the appointment of an assistant, the boys' and girls' schools should be amalgamated, to which conditions the manager refused to comply; if he can state what was the reason for insisting on these conditions after the promise to give the grant-in-aid had been made; what was the character of the inspector's report of the present schools for three years previous to the application for the grant-in-aid; whether, between that time and the date on which the aforesaid conditions were made for the obtaining of the grant, did any change for the worse take place in the character of the schools; and whether he will take steps to remove these conditions to enable the schools to be built,
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe manager applied for a building grant, but no premise to accede to it was made by the Commissioners. He was informed that, in the event of his application being favourably entertained, the infant boys should be sent to the girls' school; and, further, that it was expected that he would amalgamate the boys' and girls' schools if the average attendance of boys did not warrant, within a reasonable time, the appointment of an assistant teacher. The character of the inspector's report on the instruction imparted in these schools for the three years previous to the receipt of the application for a building grant was satisfactory, and no falling off in the efficiency of the teachers has since been reported.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state whether, if the conditions required by the Board of National Education in Ireland for obtaining; a grant-in-aid for the building of the Kilmeedy National Schools were complied with by the manager and the male and female schools amalgamated, in the event of the boys' school not warranting the appointment of an assistant, would the principal teacher of the female school be reduced to the position of assistant; and what effect would that have on her present position as teacher.
§ MR. WALTER LONGIf the conditions referred to were complied with and the male and female schools were amalgamated, the principal teacher of the female school would be reduced to the position of assistant teacher; but, under special regulations sanctioned by the Treasury, she would retain her present grade salary.