§ MR. SLOANTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Protestant children attending Lough Cutra national school, county Galway, are compelled to be present at the opening of the school to answer the roll call, after which they are turned out in all kinds of weather until religious instruction is given to Roman Catholic scholars; and whether seeing that the parents of these Protestant children have asked leave to send their children to this school after religious instruction has been given, he will make inquiries into the matter, with a view to granting their request.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Lough Cutra boys' and girls' national schools are on the estate of Viscount Gough, who is patron, the manager being Mr. F. F. Persse. The Commissioners of National Education have no information that the 1267 fact is as stated in the Question. There are five Protestant pupils on the rolls of the boys' school, and four Protestant pupils on the rolls of the girls' school, and there is no reason why any of these pupils should be present before 10.20 each morning, when the religious instruction has finished.