§ COLONEL McCALMONT (Antrim, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how long have the negotiations between the parishioners of Larne, the National Board of Education, and the Board of Works been going on for a grant for a now school house at Larne, county Antrim; how often has the present school house been condemned as insanitary and with insufficient accommodation for the school children; what threats have been made to the rector by the urban council, calling upon him to abolish the nuisance at once; how can the matter be dealt with when the Board of Works refuse to grant an advance of the necessary money; and will he give directions to the Board of Works to take the matter in hand at once and not drop it till the grant is made and the urban council of Larne satisfied.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe formal application for a grant in this case was made on 17th February, 1905. It is admittedly the fact that the existing school house is unsuitable and does not afford sufficient accommodation for the pupils in attendance. The delay in dealing with this and similar cases has been due to the necessity of revising the building plans and settling the scale of grants for school buildings generally. An agreement upon these points has been reached, but some details as to the plans remain to be worked out. The matter is being pressed forward, and the Board of Works expect to be in a position very shortly to authorise the manager to proceed with the erection of a new school house in this case.