HC Deb 10 April 1907 vol 172 cc227-8
MR. LONSDALE

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the new rule issued by the Commissioners of National Education requiring that in schools under Protestant management, where a substantial minority of the children belong to one religious denomination, an assistant teacher of the denomination of the minority shall be appointed if the average attendance permits; why has this rule been made applicable only to schools under Protestant management; and whether it is intended to apply it to all national schools in Ireland without distinction of creed.

MR. BIRRELL

The Commissioners of National Education have furnished me with a copy of the new rule referred to, which provides that in schools under Protestant management in which a substantial majority of the pupils belong to one religious denomination the principal teacher should be of that denomination, and that when a substantial minority of the children belong to another religious denomination an assistant teacher of that denomination should be appointed, if the average attendance, permits. Having regard to the comparatively small number of schools under Roman Catholic management in which there is a substantial minority of Protestant pupils, the Commissioners do not consider the arrangement to be feasible in the case of such schools. The aim of the Commissioners in making the rule has been to remove, as far as possible, the obstacles to the education in common schools of all denominations of Protestants, so that, so far at least as these schools are concerned, the fundamental principle of the national system may be carried out.

MR. LONSDALE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are many schools in Ireland under Roman Catholic management which are attended by a considerable minority of Protestant children? Are they to be allowed a teacher of their own faith?

MR. BIRRELL

As far as I can make out the number of Protestant children attending Catholic schools is too small to permit of the rule being applied.