HC Deb 23 July 1908 vol 193 c357
MR. C. J. O'DONNELL

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the number of students, over 4,000, attending the Royal University last year was larger than the attendance at the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, or Aberystwyth, in fact larger than at any University in the United Kingdom, except London; and how many of these, over 4,000, students were Catholics; and whether any University in Europe had a larger attendance of Catholics.

MR. BIRRELL

The number of candidates at the examinations of the Royal University last year was 4,115. The secretaries of the University inform me that no record is kept of the religious persuasion of the candidates. I do not think it necessary to make any inquiry as to the number of students at other Universities, British or Continental.

MR. C. J. O'DONNELL

Does the right hon. Gentleman think it necessary to withdraw from this very successful University the colleges that are to be assigned?

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, Order. That, again, is a matter of opinion.