HC Deb 25 May 1906 vol 157 cc1562-3
MR. SHEEHAN (Cork County, Mid.)

To ask the President of the Board of Educaation whether, in the event of the Bill now before Parliament passing into law, any voluntary school being certified as inefficient, an opportunity would be granted it of becoming efficient; and if so, what time would be allowed; and furthermore whether any parent sending his or her children to such a school would enjoy immunity from prosecution.

(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Board do not certify a school as inefficient. Every school now recognised as a voluntary public elementary school is in fact a certified efficient school. If such a school ceased under the Bill to be recognised as a public elementary school it would still remain a certified efficient school. The recognition of a school as a certified efficient school would not be withdrawn without due notice being given and ample opportunity afforded for defects to be remedied.