§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the reasons which induced the National Commissioners to withdraw the grant from the national school at Loughgilly, county Armagh; whether the average attendance at this school before closing was appreciably less than that of the neighbouring schools at Adavoyle and Eshwary; whether, in consequence of the closing of the school at Loughgilly, it will be necessary to make arrangements for conveying children to a distant school; whether the cost of such an arrangement will practically equal the salary of a teacher; whether the school attendance committee of the Newry (No. 2) district have made representations against the action of the Commissioners; and whether the Commissioners will reconsider their decision to close this school?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that they withdrew grants from the Loughgilly School in view of the low average attendance of pupils, as the children attending it could be conveyed by covered van to another school under Protestant management less than two miles away. The Commissioners do not anticipate a very appreciable saving from this change, but they are satisfied that the education will be more efficient. The two other schools referred to in the Question are in a similar position as regards attendance, but they are not in the immediate neighbourhood, and the question of continuing grants to 332 them could not be considered in connection with the case of Loughgilly School. The School Attendance Committee has made representations on the subject, but the Commissioners do not propose to reconsider their decision.