§ MR. WALTER LONG (Dublin, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is yet in a position to state what has been the result of the circular issued to local authorities by the National Board of Education, with the object of ascertaining their views upon the provisions of the Afflicted Children Bill (deaf, dumb, and blind) introduced in the last Parliament; and whether it is the intention of the Government to reintroduce the Bill.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The circular was sent on the 11th September, 1905, to the councils of the thirty-three administrative counties and the six county boroughs. The following is an abstract of the replies received from twenty of these councils:—Matter still to be considered by council, six; matter to be further considered by council, four; no action taken, two; approve of Bill, four; approve, subject to certain suggested amendments, two; disapprove, one; no action will be taken unless present Government proposes to reintroduce the Bill, one. No reply has been received in the remaining nineteen cases. I have not yet had time to fully consider the question of reintroducing the Bill, but I agree that the question is one of importance.