§ MR. VINCENT KENNEDYTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the urban district council of Cavan and their predecessors have continuously enforced the Irish Education Act of 1892 since 1894; is he aware that this Act has cost the council and commissioners a rate of about 1d. in the pound annually, but that the fines and costs of proceedings have been paid to the credit of the local rates, to the smooth working of the Act and general satisfaction of the local bodies; and whether, in view of the fact that an order has been issued that only one-third of the fines under the Act in the future are to be lodged to the credit of the local rate, and in view of the effect upon the Education Act of this order, he will say what steps he proposes to take in the interest of education.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell) I would refer to my Answer to the hon. Member for North Londonderry on 17th instant, †My right hon. friend the Attorney-General for Ireland is instituting proceedings in the High Court with the object of obtaining an authoritative decision upon the construction of the
ߤ See(4) debates,elxxvi,124.860 statutes regulating the application of the fines in question.