§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the Estimates for the coming financial year show an increase in the amounts required for primary education in Great Britain of £645,000, and in Ireland of only £1,502; and, if so, whether, in view of the state of primary education in Ireland, and the complaints as to defective school buildings and remuneration of teachers, the Treasury will take steps to remedy the disparity between the amounts raised for the purposes of primary education in Great Britain and in Ireland.
§ MR. McKENNAThe figures are not comparable, as the Estimates for England and Scotland include not only Elementary hut Secondary Education, Science and Art Grants, Museums, Royal Colleges of Science and Art, etc. As regards the charge for elementary education in Great Britain a large proportion of the increase is due to the larger number of children in the schools, a consideration which does not apply to Ireland in the same degree.
§ MR. FLYNNBut do not the figures show that England will receive from the public purse in the coming financial year 7s. 7d. per head of population while Ireland will get only 6s. 5d.? Will the Treasury favourably consider applications from Irish boards for increased grants in view of the defective nature of many school buildings and the low remuneration of the teachers?
§ MR. MCKENNAThe larger increase in England is due to the fact that there are more children in the schools this year. The increase of children in Ireland is nothing like in the same degree.