§ MR. GWYNN (Galway)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland on what grounds the system of inspection of modern language teaching by oral examination has been discontinued in Irish intermediary schools; whether his attention has been called to a letter from Archbishop Walsh, who is a member of the Board of Intermediate Education, declaring that the responsibility for stopping this system rests neither with the Board nor with the Treasury, but with some controlling authorities at Dublin Castle; and, if so, will he indicate the authorities referred to.
§ MR. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my predecessor to Questions on this subject put by the hon. Member for South Kerry on 21st and 29th March, 1906.† Those
† See (4) Debates, cl.v., 386, 1545.887 Answers are still applicable. The only inspection of schools which the Board of Intermediate Education have carried out was that performed by temporary inspectors in the years 1901, 1902, and 1903. The Board desired that a permanent inspectorate should be appointed, but, for reasons which have already been stated, the Government were unable to agree. The Government, however, were prepared to approve of the re-appointment of temporary inspectors, but the Board declined to accept the proposal.
§ MR. KETTLE (Tyrone, E.)I hope a better system of secondary education in Ireland will be inaugurated by the Bill shortly to be brought in by the right hon. Gentleman.
§ MR. BIRRELLI hope so too.