§ MR. P. J. KENNEDY (Westmeath, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what steps have the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland taken to carry out the arrangement entered into with the Commissioners of National Education for the purpose of training teachers in elementary science as mentioned in their circular (No. 27) to county councillors bearing date August, 1903.
§ (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The Department, as stated in the circular referred to, are prepared to approve of provision being made for the training of national school teachers in elementary science under local schemes of technical instruction. The provision of such instruction is not binding upon local technical instruction committees, but facilities are extended by the Department where there is a demand for such instruction, and where the local authority is willing to undertake it as part of their scheme of technical instruction. At the present time provision is made in six urban technical schools for courses of instruction of this character.