§ MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state how many national schools in Ireland, not including model schools, are open for imparting secular instruction on Saturdays; what is the percentage of children attending model schools on Saturdays; and if he can explain why these schools are kept open for two hours and a half each Saturday.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education have no Return showing how many ordinary schools are open for secular instruction on Saturdays. There is no rule which necessitates the opening of such schools on Saturdays, but managers may keep their schools open on that day if they so desire. The Commissioners themselves are managers of the model schools and these schools have always been kept open for half the day on Saturdays, with, as the Commissioners believe, a beneficial effect.