§ 11. Mr. O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Grant of £40,000 for secondary education promised for last year will still be available; and, if not, will the Grant for future years be increased so as to recoup Ireland for the loss she has suffered?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)I should be sorry to say that this Grant was not available. I certainly cannot hold out hopes that it will be increased.
§ 12. Mr. O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary when he proposes to give the House of Commons an opportunity of discussing the delay in making the promised Grant of £44,000 per annum towards secondary education in Ireland?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI quite recognise that this matter cannot stand over much longer, and as soon as ever a decision has been arrived at I will inform the House what it is. As to an opportunity for discussion I cannot answer.
§ 13. Mr. O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary when the Grant of £40,000 per annum for secondary education in Ireland was first promised; whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the conditions then suggested; and will he explain the cause of the delay and the loss which Ireland has suffered?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI stated in the House on the 31st July last that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had agreed to allow me to have this sum of £40,000 for the improvement of the position of secondary teachers in Ireland, to be distributed in a way to be settled by me in consultation with the proper authorities in Ireland. A draft scheme for the distribution of the Grant was published in the "Times" and in the Irish newspapers on the 10th September last, where anyone who wishes can see it. I am still in communication with educational authorities in Ireland as to the details of the scheme, and no useful purpose will be served by laying a copy of the original draft on the Table of the House.
§ Mr. O'DONNELLIs it a fact that as a result of the opposition Ireland has lost £40,000 already?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe matter is still under very careful discussion, and I am still hopeful to be able very soon to inform the 1762 House that a satisfactory agreement has been come to whereby this very considerable sum of money would be secured for the purpose named, but at the present moment it is in peril.
§ Mr. O'DONNELLCan the right hon. Gentleman give any hope that an arrangement will be come to within a reasonable time, because we have already waited twelve months, and we should not be asked to wait any longer?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI cannot expect the House or anybody else to be content not to know what has happened, and therefore I hope very shortly, in a few days or weeks, to be able to say that. I am fully alive to the importance of the matter.