§ Mr. THOMAS O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, seeing that the Irish training colleges, as disclosed by the result of the last examinations in Irish, have wholly failed to discharge their duty to the educational interests of Ireland, he will cause an inquiry to be made by an independent educational expert into the professors who teach, the time given each day by students to the study of Irish, and the various other matters relating to this matter in the various training colleges in Ireland?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The training colleges referred to in my reply to the question asked by the hon. Member on the 20th instant, were not established for the purpose of training teachers to teach the Irish language. The Commissioners of National Education giant aid to special colleges for that purpose. In the training colleges Irish is an extra and optional subject, and, as the 456 standard of qualification is high, it is not to be expected that a large proportion of Students should at the end of two years qualify in Irish in addition to the ordinary programme of the colleges, however good a foundation they may have laid for future acquaintance with the language.
§ Mr. THOMAS O'DONNELLDo these training colleges consider it part of their duty to Irish education to teach properly the language of the country?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThey discharge the duties which are properly entrusted to them.