§ MR. CONOR O'KELLY (Mayo, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will inquire if the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland are aware that in the recent local government elections in Ireland the Claremorris National School, which was built by the people of Claremorris, was placed at the disposal of one 1199 of the two parties nominating candidates for the county and district councils, and, as the result of the elections showed, placed at the disposal of the party supported by a minority of the electors; whether the Commissioners are aware that the great majority of the parents of the children attending the Claremorris school voted against the candidates to whom the school-house was lent for electioneering purposes; whether the Commissioners are aware that demonstrations were organised in the school by the supporters of the candidates of the minority, which led to regrettable scenes in the streets of Claremorris, culminating on one occasion in a baton charge which the constabulary were compelled to make in the interests of public order and tranquillity; whether any damage to school furniture, windows, maps, slates, or papers was done during these meetings, and, if so, by whom will the expense of making good the damage be borne; whether the Commissioners of Education will say if it is recognised as an essential principle in the management of Irish national schools that schools should not be made available for ore particular religious or political section in any district for the purpose of antagonising the views of another section in the same district; and whether the Commissioners propose to take any steps to prevent in future the use of school buildings for objects in connection with which differences of opinion exist amongst the parents whose children attend such schools.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that, under their rules, no political meeting can be held in any school-house, nor can any political business whatever be transacted therein, and further that school-houses are not permitted to be used for meetings called to support or discuss the claims of candidates for the office of district or county councillor. The Commissioners have no information that the Claremorris National School-house has been used in contravention of the rules in question, but they have directed inquiries to be made into the matter.