HC Deb 28 March 1906 vol 154 cc1284-5
MR. A. ROCHE (Cork)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the rate of payment of grants awarded to secondary schools by the Intermediate Board for Ireland has been reduced by one-third; that this reduction was made suddenly; that consequently many schools, on account of loss of income, are scarcely able to meet their requirements and to maintain the necessary staff; that the amount of money expended by the Board in prizes and exhibitions has also been largely reduced during the past few years; and that while reductions are being made in school grants, and in rewards to deserving pupils, the expenditure on administration and examinations has been largely increased; will he explain why these reductions of grants have been made in † See (4) Debates, cliv., 711. spite of the fact that the Board has built up a reserve fund of more than £100,000; and will- he say if secondary schools in Ireland are rewarded in proportion to the increase of expenditure in alcoholic drinks, and fined in proportion to the increase of sobriety in the country.

MR. BRYCE

I am informed by the Commissioners of Intermediate Education that although the rate of payment for school grant has been reduced by approximately one-third in comparison with the rate of 1904, the total amount distributed in 1905 among managers of schools was £49,922 in school grant, and £2,974 in bonuses for choirs and orchestras, as against £57,982 in school grant and £1,187 in bonuses in 1904. It was generally known that there had been a considerable increase in the number of students examined in 1905, and, in the opinion of the Board, the school authorities might therefore have anticipated a reduction in the rate. The amount of money expended on exhibitions and prizes has been diminished, but the amount saved in that way has gone towards the school grant. The expenditure on administration has not been increased, but the expenditure on examinations has necessarily increased with the numbers of students to be dealt with. Under the Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Act, 1890, the Board receive the residue of the Irish share of the Customs and Excise?duties, after payment of £78,000 to the Commissioners of National Education, and?consequently the amount of this principal source of the Board's income must vary with the amount of those duties.