§ MR. KETTLE (Tyrone, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, what was the total amount expended in 1906–7 by way of fees for the teaching of Irish as an ordinary subject in the national schools under the scheme introduced by Mr. Bryce in 1906; what was the scale on which the fees were calculated; and whether the Commissioners of National 538 Education for Ireland have since issued a regulation in contravention of that scheme, and have refused to pay fees for the teaching of Irish as an ordinary subject within school hours.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe total amount expended by way of fees for the teaching of Irish as an ordinary subject in National Schools in the school year ended 30th June, 1907, was £2124 7s. 4d. The fees paid were at the rate of Is per unit of the average attendance at the Irish class in the second and third standards, and at the rate of 2s. 6d. per unit in the fourth and higher standards. Prior to 1906 fees were paid for Irish as an extra subject only. In 1906 fees for all extra subjects, including Irish, were withdrawn and the fees which I have mentioned were sanctioned for Irish taught as an ordinary school subject. The. withdrawal of the fees for Irish as an extra subject gave rise to much dissatisfaction in Ireland, and it was therefore decided to restore the system of paying fees for Irish as an extra subject and upon a substantially higher scale. Consequent upon this restoration, payment for Irish as an ordinary subject ceased.