HC Deb 17 June 1913 vol 54 cc207-8
61. Mr. O'DONNELL

asked whether any representative body in Ireland has made any objection to the Grant of £40,000 for secondary education; and, if so, why does he still say the Grant is in danger; and whether he will place the Grant on the Votes immediately, paying out of it such schools as comply with the conditions?

Mr. BIRRELL

For six months now last past I have been in consultation with the Catholic Head Masters' Association, and I have also seen representatives of the secondary teachers, and I am sorry to say so far as the former association is concerned no agreement has as yet been arrived at as to the conditions of the proposed new Grant. In order that all parties interested in this important matter may appreciate the points of difference I am asking their permission to publish the correspondence which has passed between the Catholic Head Masters' Association and myself, and I hope that when this has been done discussion between all the parties interested in this Grant in Ireland and myself may lead to an agreement, as I should regard the loss of the money and of the benefits it would bring in its train as a great misfortune.

Mr. O'DONNELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman promise us, after he has laid the correspondence on the Table, an opportunity for discussing the whole matter?

Mr. BIRRELL

I do not quite know how that may be. I should prefer the matter should be discussed, but I think discussion in Ireland is perhaps almost more important, at the present moment, than in England. I will bear the matter in mind.

Mr. O'DONNELL

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that all the public authorities in Ireland and most of the education authorities have agreed that this money should be granted?

Mr. BIRRELL

There is a great deal of agreement upon the subject, and I am most anxious that this Grant should work for the benefit of all the secondary teachers in Ireland and as undoubtedly the Catholic Head Masters' Association represents by far the greater number of those teachers I am still very hopeful of agreement, because any other arrangement would be of a truncated and one-sided character. I hope the hon. Member will have a little more patience therefore and allow the negotiations to be further prolonged.