CAPTAIN CRAIG (Down, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the lack of prosperity in some parts of Ireland, he will discontinue the allocation of grants towards the teaching of Irish in national schools, with the object of securing more time being spent on learning other languages, seeing that a section of Irishmen object to contribute towards the cost of teaching Irish; and whether he can see his way to constitute the Irish language as a special subject, to be taught out of national school hours, and paid for by those parents desirous of having their children taught it.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.)—It is not proposed to discontinue the allocation of grants for the teaching of Irish, nor does the Irish Government believe that it would be possible, as the hon. Member seems to suggest, to introduce the general teaching of Greek, German, and other languages in Irish primary schools. Neither would it be an easy matter to give effect at the same time to all the wishes of every particular section of Irishmen. The suggestion in the last paragraph of the Question does not appear to be practicable.