§ MR. SLOANTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many non-vested national schools there are in Ireland, how many have been reported to the Commissioners of Education by their inspectors as being unsanitary; and what would be the probable cost of putting such schools into proper condition; and what steps, if any, does he propose to take in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the number of non-vested schools is 4,930, but they are not at present in a position to say how many of these schools have been reported as insanitary, or to give an estimate of the cost of putting them in a proper condition. I have recently announced that an increased building grant has been arranged, and that it is hoped that the work of building and repairing schoolhouses may now proceed without delay.