§ MR. MURPHY (Kerry, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he intends to make any proposals in connection with primary education in Ireland in accordance with the unanimous demands made at several public meetings recently held; if so, can he indicate the nature of, and the probable date on which such proposals will be made; and will he say if there is at present sufficient funds to comply partly with such demand to the credit of Irish education in the Development Grant and otherwise; and whether he can give any guarantee that such money will not in future be used for any other purpose than education.
MR. BRYCEThe Commissioners of National Education have submitted proposals on the subject of primary education in connection with the forthcoming Estimates for the next financial year, and 1733 these are now under consideration. I am not at present in a position to say when it will be possible to make a statement on the subject. The Ireland Development Grant has already borne certain charges in connection with education, and future Estimates will contain further provision for education. I am not in a position to give the assurance asked for in the concluding part of this Question, because, as the hon. Member must be aware, the funds available under the Ireland Development Grant have already been largely hypothecated by the Land Purchase Act of 1903 for non-educational purposes. It is impossible for me to say what action the House may take upon the Ireland Development Grant Estimates which will be submitted to it in the future.