§ MR. J. DEVLIN (Belfast, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the proposal to close the Portadown Technical School on the ground of the smallness of the attendance at the various classes; whether he is aware that this condition of affairs is due to the apathy of the committee; and whether he will advise the Local Government Board to take action with a view to preventing the closing of the school.
905 (Answered by Mr. T. W. Russell.) The Department of Agriculture are not aware of any proposal to close the Portadown Technical School, which is well attended and doing excellent work. The committee have under consideration the question of discontinuing the day trades preparatory schools, which is a section of the technical school more recently organised, but no decision has been come to. The question of continuing or discontinuing the school is one for the Department and not for the Local Government Board, and the matter has not yet been brought before the Department.