§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord - Lieutenant of Ireland whether defective vision is rapidly on the increase in Ireland; whether the authorities in England and in Scotland are making elaborate and extensive arrangements for the testing of the sight of children attending public schools in these countries, and for guarding against the further increase of this scourge; whether the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland have taken any steps in this matter, or have collected any information whatever with reference to the prevalence of defective sight amongst children attending Irish schools; and whether the Government propose to take any steps in the matter.
MR. BRYCEThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that they have no information as to whether defective vision is on the increase in Ireland. I understand that certain local education authorities in England have, of their own motion, recently given attention to the matter of defective vision in children. The Commissioners of National Education have not, they inform me, taken any steps in the matter, but I will, without delay, commend the subject to their consideration.