§ MR. FLYNNI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that for the purposes of schemes under the Agricultural and Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act, 1899, the Cork County Council has contributed out of the rates, during the five years ended 31st March, 1906, the sum of £21,110, and Cork County Borough, for the same period, the sum of £4,335; whether he can say what specific schemes for the improvement of agriculture have 47 been carried out in the county by the Department during that period, and what schemes for technical instruction in the county borough; and whether, having regard to the large sums contributed by the county and in view of the evidence given before the Butter Committee of this House by butter experts in respect to the dairy industry in Denmark, Canada, and the Australian Colonies, the Department are prepared to take practical steps towards the establishment of winter dairying in Ireland.
MR. BRYCEThe facts are correctly stated in the first paragraph of the Question. The agricultural schemes which have been put into operation in the county are those relating to—Live Stock Improvement; Poultry Improvement; Instruction in Horticulture and Bee Keeping; Instruction in Home Dairying; Subsidies to Agricultural Shows; Instruction in Agriculture, including winter classes; and the scheme of prizes for cottages and small farms. The Technical Instruction Scheme in operation in the county borough includes instruction in some fifty subjects of Science, Art, Technology, Commerce, Domestic Economy, Lace and Crochet Making, and Art Needlework. As regards winter dairying in Ireland, a few of the County Committees of Agriculture have recently discussed the question; and the Department are prepared to do whatever they legitimately can do towards encouraging this industry.