§ MR. O'SHEE (Waterford W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received resolutions of protest from Irish public bodies against the suggestion that two-thirds of the fines under the Education Acts should go to the Crown instead of in aid of the rates; whether the ratepayers have to bear the cost of enforcing the compulsory provisions as regards attendance of children at schools; and whether he will direct that the fines should be paid in recoupment of such costs.
§ MR. BIRRELLI would refer to the Answer given by my right hon. friend the Attorney-General for Ireland to a Question on this subject put by the hon. Member for the Ossory Division on 17th February. It has been decided by the Superior Courts that under the Statutes governing the matter one-third only of the fines in question may be paid to the prosecutor, that is, the local authority. The Government have no power to direct any other than the statutory disposition of the fines.