§ 32. Mr. O'DONNELLasked whether the promised Grant of £40,000 towards secondary education in Ireland will be available for the school year ended June, 1913; whether secondary education in Ireland at present receives no Grant from the Treasury, while England and Scotland have been receiving large Grants for this service for years, with the result that secondary education in Ireland is in a hopeless condition; whether he is aware that the public bodies, the teachers, and all prominent educationalists have demanded for years a Grant for secondary education in Ireland proportionate to that given in England and Scotland; and whether, seeing that there is practically no opposition to his scheme, he will take steps to have this Grant made available for the year ending June, 1913?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Grant referred to was promised conditionally to improve the condition of teachers in secondary schools and for no other purpose. The question of the comparative amounts granted for secondary education generally in England, Scotland, and Ireland does not arise in connection with it. Until the objections raised to the draft scheme for the distribution of the Grant have been disposed of it is impossible to say when it can come into operation.
§ Mr. O'DONNELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that education is suffering severely in consequence of not giving this Grant?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThis is a special Grant for a special purpose and cannot be compared with the Grants to England and Scotland.
§ Mr. O'DONNELLWill the right hon. Gentleman say who in Ireland is objecting to the giving of this Grant?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI cannot answer that.