§ MR. BARRIETo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether his attention has been directed 1966 to the circumstance that, under the revised Supplementary Estimate, Class 4, Vote 10, Public Education (Ireland), issued on 24th July, and voted under the Closure on 28th July, convent schools will get augmentation grants much in excess of those to other schools; for instance, a convent school with a roll of 220 will get £55 augmentation, while an ordinary school with a like roll would get only £38, viz., £10 to principal and £7 each to four assistants; and is it intended to pay conventual teachers on a higher scale, out of public funds, than ordinary teachers.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that in the case supposed in the Question the figures are as stated, but that in respect of the whole Vote for National Education, including the sums provided upon the revised Supplementary Estimate, convent schools are not paid on a higher scale than ordinary national schools.
§ MR. BUTCHER (Cambridge University)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, seeing that a fresh Estimate has been presented in connection with the grant of £114,000 to Irish primary education, those interested in the preservation of schools with attendance under fifteen may assume that the National Board is not bound by the former condition to the effect that schools under fifteen must be suppressed, and that it is open to the National Board to represent to the Treasury the ugrent need of maintaining many of these schools.
§ (Answered b Mr. Birrell.) In my opinion the Answer is in the affirmative.