§ MR. MURPHY (Kerry, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can request the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland to state whether the proportion of children in primary schools in Ireland and Scotland for the current year is as 1 to 11/9 while the proportion of education grants, according to the Estimates, is as 1 to 1½ and whether he can state any ground for the existence or continuance of this disparity.
§ (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed by the Commissioners of National Education that, at the end of the school year 1905, the proportion of pupils on the books in Ireland and Scotland was 1 to 1.09, but the proportion of pupils in average attendance was 1 to 1.39. The amount of the Votes for Ireland and Scotland for the year 1905–6 bore the proportion of 1 to 1.30. It will therefore be seen that while the disparity between pupils and voted money is in favour of Scotland if the numbers on the books are taken into account, the disparity is in favour of Ireland when the numbers in average attendance are compared.