§ Mr. HUGH BARRIEasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), whether any agreement had now been come to between the Commissioners of National Education and the Department for the teaching of cookery and laundry lessons in national schools; and, if so, would he state how much is to be paid per pupil for this instruction?
§ The VICE-PRESIDENT of the DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. T. W. Russell)The Department are not in a position to spend any portion of their funds in giving instruction in cookery or laundry work in national schools. They are, however, willing to try the experiment in one or two selected centres of giving instruction to pupils in national schools for the payment mentioned in the rules of the Commissioners of National Education, namely, five shillings per head. This proposal necessitates some small modification in the rules in regard to which the Department are still in communication with the Commissioners.
§ Mr. BARRIEAm I to understand that these instructions will only be given where the local authorities concerned consider it is desirable?
§ Mr. RUSSELLCertainly.