Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Commissioners of National Education, Ireland, have given notice to the manager of Drumgiven national schools, county Down, of their intention to withdraw the Grant 586 under Regulation 179 (c) (2) because the average attendance temporarily dropped to 19.7 in 1910, although since then at has steadily increased to 23.6 in 1911, to 25.8 for the quarter ended December, 19101, and to 26 for the present quarter; whether he is aware that the manager has money in hand for the repairs of the school-house and for its better equipment, which he has only been prevented from using by the notice to withdraw the Grant; whether he is aware that the Ballymacaramery school, to which the Commissioners wish the Drumgiven children to go is most inconveniently situated over two miles distant; and whether, under all the circumstances, he will recommend the retention of the school for the convenience of the people of the neighbourhood?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI understand that the facts are generally as stated in the first two paragraphs of the question. The Commissioners of National Education inform me that, in the event of this school being dispensed with, none of the pupils enrolled in December, 1911, would be obliged to travel two miles to attend another school. The matter is not one in which I can interfere.
Captain CRAIGIs it not part of the policy of His Majesty's Government at the present moment to close these small Protestant schools as far as possible, and could they not give directions in a case of this sort, where the school is constantly increasing its attendance, for it to be kept open for the convenience of the neighbourhood?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo. This question of closing small schools is obviously one of very great difficulty, but it is one entirely for the National Board themselves. Their rule with regard to Protestant schools is that no school should be closed because of falling under the number of fifty unless there is another school under the same management within two miles. They have to put the rule into force as much as they can, though I quite agree it is a difficult matter
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, but I am told twenty-nine out of the thirty-four pupils do not live two miles away from the school to which the hon. and gallant Gentleman refers. It is a question of the residence of the pupils.