§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary whether Marlborough-street College, Dublin, is the original college for the training of national school teachers; whether it is still open to and attended by teachers of all denominations on equal terms; whether in 1890 the then Chief Secretary 332 established what he called a principle which would secure an all-round equality of treatment as between Marlborough-street College and the three denominational training colleges in Dublin; whether after these three colleges had been provided with free homes in accordance with this arrangement, they were described by the Commissioners of National Education as equipped in every respect, domestic and educational, m a style that is unsurpassed in completeness in any of the colleges in England and Scotland; whether Talbot House is still retained as the main residence for the girls in training at Marlborough-street; whether during the last session there were 956 absences in less than seven months for 165 girls in training; whether in 1898 the then Chief Secretary for Ireland stated that the girls were not permitted to lift their windows at night lest the disgusting language of the streets should reach them; and whether the condition of things thus described in 1898 is substantially unchanged?
The HON. MEMBERfurther asked whether at the opening of the new residence for the men in training at Marlborough-street Training College, Dublin on 24th August last year, the resident commissioner said it was unfair that the lady students, who had to live in Talbot-street should be treated so scurvily as compared with men, and spoke of the clamorous need of a new residence for these young ladies, and that His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, who was present in his official capacity to declare the new residence open, said that the next step, and a most important one, for which it was to be hoped that the way would be cleared as quickly as possible, was the provision of new residential accommodation for the girl students, and refused to admit the force of what he described as the arguments, so called, presented by the Treasury against producing the required funds; whether, in view of these statements of His Excellency and the urgent needs of the case, he can state if proposals will be submitted to Parliament this Session to provide a new residence for the women students of Marlborough-street College, on she site already provided at so great a cost; and, if no such proposals are to be submitted to Parliament, what are the reasons for refusing to do so?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have nothing to add to my reply to the two questions in similar terms asked by the hon. Member on 7th December last.
§ Mr. LONSDALEIs it to be understood that there is no hope of those additional schools being constructed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe hon. Member knows that a sum was given to the Commissioners of National Education which was supposed to be sufficient both for men and women. The men absorbed the whole sum; the women undoubtedly received somewhat obscure treatment, but I am not in a position to hold out any hope of any further grant.
§ Mr. LONSDALEIs not that a great injustice?
§ Mr. BIRRELLWell, I do not know whose fault it is.