§ MR. CULLINANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state what is the amount of the equivalent grant withdrawn for technical education purposes; what is the number of schools affected by the withdrawal; and what are the relative amounts annually spent on technical education in England, Ireland, and Scotland.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe amount of the special grant to Ireland for 1340 which provision was made in the ordinary Estimates for 1904–5, when it ceased, was £3,500. The circumstances under which payment of this special grant was made and discontinued have been fully explained in the House. In substitution for that grant provision has been made in the Development Grant Estimate for an annual payment of £7,000. Twelve schools participated in the original grant of £3,500; and the amount expended in technical instruction in Ireland in 1903–4 (the last year for which the figures are available) was £93,267. I have no information as to the corresponding amounts expended in Great Britain.
§ MR. CULLINANIs not the withdrawal of this money doing serious injury to the schools?
§ MR. WALTER LONGNo; because there has been substituted for it one of double the amount.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)Has any arrangement been made to enable us to discuss the development grant?
§ MR. WALTER LONGThat Question should be addressed to the Leader of the House.