§ MR. BOLANDTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whther he is aware that application for a grant to build a new school at Curraheen, Glenbeigh, County Kerry was made by the manager in November, 1902, accompanied by the statement that the floor between the boys' and the girls' school was in a dangerous condition, and that even though propped it might collapse at any time; and whether, in view of the fact that the whole School buildings have been condemned by the surveyor of the Board of Works, and that, owing to the poverty of the locality, it is impossible for the manager to raise 1470 £400 from the district as required by the Board of Education, being a contribution of one-third, he will arrange for an equitable distribution of the expense of constructing a new school in the place of one which is a constant source of danger to children and teachers.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education have sanctioned a grant of £872, being two-thirds of the estimated cost of a new school house for boys and girls at Curraheen, in place of the existing schools which have been condemned. The manager has recently represented that he is unable to raise the required local contribution of £436, and has applied for a grant of the entire cost. The Commissioners are not in a position to consider appplications of this kind, pending a decision upon the general question of special grants towards school buildings in necessitous districts which is at present under consideration.