§ Sir ALBERT SPICERasked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the fact that of the eight boys charged with the manslaughter of a teacher at the Trim Poor Law school, one entered the school at the age of four, one at the age of five, and four at the age of six; whether, in view of the many years spent by these lads in the institution, he will order an inquiry into the administration of the school; and whether he will take steps to impress on boards of guardians the duty of securing for young rate-supported children the humanising influences of home life by boarding them out in suitable families?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI think on the whole that this is the most distressing case which has occurred during my time in Ireland. The ages of the boys referred to appears to be correct. I have ordered an inquiry into the administration of this school for the purpose of ascertaining whether any changes in the present system of training and discipline could with advantage be made. The Local Government Board have constantly urged upon boards of guardians in Ireland the desirability of boarding out eligible children, but as the law stands at present four of the eight boys implicated could not legally have been boarded out.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEWill the Chief Secretary consider the advisability of consulting the Home Secretary with a view to the existing Committee on English Reformatory Schools, including Irish schools, in the scope of their inquiries?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have no objection to that consultation although I am rather disposed to think that a special inquiry would be better. But I will consider the point.
§ Sir ALBERT SPICERasked the Chief Secretary whether the five boys recently sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment for the manslaughter of an assistant teacher at the Trim Poor Law school can be sent to a Borstal institution instead of to the ordinary gaol; and, if so, whether he will take steps to secure for them the reformative discipline of such an institution?
§ Mr. BIRRELLWhen these boys were sentenced only two of them were over sixteen years of age, the other three boys were therefore not eligible to be sent to a Borstal Institution. The General Prisons Board have recommended the transfer of the two boys who are eligible to a Borstal Institution, and one of the other boys who will be eligible on the 6th May next, will also be transferred. The boys sentenced to improsinment are being treated in prison under the Modified Borstal System.