§ Mr. GORDONasked whether the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland have for some time past been obliged to suspend the making of grants for building and repairing schoolhouses owing to the inadequacy of the provisions made by the Treasury for this purpose; how many applications have been refused within the last year on account of want of funds; whether a large number of such applications were made for the purpose of providing sanitary and suitable buildings instead of those which are at present in use, and which are most insanitary and unsuitable; and what steps the Government intend to take to enable the Commissioners to meet such applications?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs I informed the hon. and learned Member, in reply to the question asked by him on the 11th instant, the provision for building grants amounts to £240,000 for the period from 1st April, 1907, to 31st March, 1913. I understand that the Commissioners of National Education have already sanctioned grants to the amount of £235,000, and are therefore obliged practically to suspend further grants. They inform me that they have had to postpone the sanctioning of grants in ninety-nine cases owing to want of funds, and that they have many other applications before them. I am most anxious to secure that cases of urgency arising out of insanitary or dangerous conditions of buildings should be given priority of treatment, and am quite prepared to co-operate with the Board in securing that object, but it is manifest that some financial limit must be observed.
§ Mr. GORDONCannot the right hon. Gentleman see that the sum of £70,000 for the Development Fund is secured to the Commissioners for this very necessary purpose?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe £70,000 was the capital sum put on the Development Fund, but that has become depleted owing to other reasons, and the sum of £240,000 was substituted.
§ Mr. GORDONWill the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to get a further grant made in view of the urgency of this question?