§ MR. BARRIE (Londonderry, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in the event of the new annual grant of £40,000 for school buildings in Ireland falling short of the demands upon it, and where the local parties in poor districts are raising money for enlargements of non-vested schools, building class-rooms, or making other structural improvements, the Commissioners of Education will be empowered to make grants out of the £40,000 to assist local parties when such assistance is needed.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The £40,000 alluded to in the Question is provided for the building and improvement of vested school houses. No provision is made for the building and improvement of non-vested school houses, and consequently the Commissioners of National Education have no power to make grants in such cases. Loans, however, are made for the erection, enlargement, or improvement of non-vested school houses.