CAPTAIN CRAIGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Parliamentary grant for Irish primary education in the current year is £500,000 less than the Scottish grant, although the number of pupils in Ireland and Scotland is almost exactly the same; and whether he will favourably consider the question of granting an increase of salary to Irish teachers, so that the best possible class may be attracted to the profession.
§ MR. BIRRELLIt is the fact that the Parliamentary grant for Irish primary education in the current year is some £500,000 less than the Scottish grant for public education. This latter grant, however, includes educational I services which do not fall under the head of primary education, and appears to be further swollen by a revote of £100,000 not expended in the previous year. The number of national school pupils nominally on the books in Ireland is 70,000 less than in Scotland, but the number in average attendance is nearly 200,000 less. I should be glad to see some improvement in the position of Irish national school teachers, which does not seem to be satisfactory, and will give the matter every possible consideration.