HC Deb 19 July 1915 vol 73 cc1186-7
56. Mr. GINNELL

asked the Chief Secretary the number of students who entered for examination and the number of prizes awarded by the Irish Intermediate Education Board in German and Irish, respectively, in 1914?

Mr. BIRRELL

In 1914 the numbers of candidates examined by the Board of Intermediate Education in Irish and in German were 6,033 and 1,859, respectively. In my reply to the hon. Member's question of the 30th ultimo I explained that the only direct payments made by the Board in respect of individual subjects are special prizes for proficiency in composition, and I gave the value of the prizes thus awarded in 1914.

Mr. GINNELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the information asked for in the question, as to how many students won prizes in Irish, and how many in German?

Mr. BIRRELL

I told the hon. Gentleman before, but unfortunately I have not a report of my previous reply. In 1914 prizes to the value of—

Mr. GINNELL

How many?

Mr. BIRRELL

I do not know how many, but prizes to the value of £82 were awarded for German, and to the value of £74 for Irish.

57. Mr. GINNELL

asked the Chief Secreretary if he will ascertain and state the extent to which the teaching and study of German and Irish, respectively, are subsidised in Trinity College, Dublin, and Magee College, Derry, omitted from his recent Return; and, if those institutions refuse this information, will he say on what grounds, and how far it is open to other educational institutions in Ireland receiving State support to make themselves, by similar or other means, immune from responsibility to Parliament?

Mr. BIRRELL

The information contained in my reply to the hon. Member's question of the 30th ultimo, regarding the provision for the teaching and study of Irish and German in certain universities and colleges in Ireland was furnished by the courtesy of the heads of those institutions, all of which are in receipt of Parliamentary Grants under the Irish Universities Act, 1908. No such Grants are made in the case of Trinity College, Dublin, and Magee College, Derry.