§ MR. J. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether in the rules and regulations of the Commissioners of National Education for 1907–8, it is stated that cookery and laundry work should be taught as part of the ordinary school programme to girls enrolled in the fifth and higher standards where suitable provision for instruction in these subjects is available, and that a fee of 5s. may be earned in respect of each girl who is taught cookery or laundry work in a national school, pro- 1520 vided she has attended at least 50 per cent. of the meetings of the cookery or laundry class; and, if so, will he state whether it is proposed by the National Board in their rules for 1908–9 to abolish payment of this fee for the teaching of these subjects.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The fact is as stated in the first part of the Question. The Commissioners of National Education do not propose to abolish the fees for instruction in cookery and laundry work by their code for 1908–9.