§ MR. BOLAND (Kerry, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that St. Joseph's School at Nymphsfield was opened on October 29th, 1900, at the suggestion of His Majesty's Inspector, 458 and at the request of a majority of parents, Catholic and Protestant, because of the inefficiency of the Church of England school; that the inspectors have continued to inspect the school, have insisted on the conscience clause, and in other respects treated it as a public elementary school; that in February, 1903, the plans of the new school building were approved by the Board of Education; and whether, seeing that under the proposals made by the local education committee a heavy expense will fall on the ratepayers if the Church school is to be repaired, he will now direct the holding of a public inquiry into the whole matter.
§ SIR WILLIAM ANSONThe Board and its inspectors from the outset always made it quite clear to the managers of the St. Joseph's School at Nymphsfield that it was not and could not be recognised as a public elementary school. In approving the plans for the new school building in February, 1903, the Board stated that no hope could be held out that the proposed school would become eligible for Parliamentary grants, and inquired whether the managers, in view of all the circumstances of the case, considered that they were well advised in proceeding further in the matter. The inspector also communicated with the managers to the same effect. The Board have considered the case and given their decision, which is final. There appears to be no reason for a public inquiry.