§ Mr. JOHN MURPHYasked the Chief Secretary whether he has now received the agreement of all parties concerned as to the proposals made for the heating and cleansing of schools, he will take immediate steps to secure the Treasury contribution, so that the schools can be heated and cleansed during next winter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe hon. Member is mistaken in supposing that I have received an expression of the agreement of all parties in the proposals to which he refers. I am not, therefore, in a position at present to add anything to my reply to the question on the subject asked by the hon. Member for Carlow on 26th August. I am prepared, as I then stated, to give careful attention to any practical solution which has the general support of the school managers, but it must not be assumed that the Treasury as yet are in any way committed to the basis of negotiations.
§ Mr. JOHN MURPHYasked the Chief Secretary whether he is now prepared to take any steps to amend the Compulsory School Attendance Act in Ireland, seeing that an arrangement has been made as to the questions of heating and cleansing schools on which an amending Act was stated to be contingent; whether representations for such an amending Act have been received from many educational authorities in Ireland; and whether, as practical unanimity exists as to the Amendments required, he proposes to take steps to introduce an amending Act this year?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have already expressed my opinion that the questions of compulsory attendance and of the heating and cleansing of schools must go together, but the hon. Member is mistaken in supposing that an arrangement has yet been arrived at on the latter question. I am always prepared to consider any measure for the improvement of education in Ireland, but I do not see any possibility of legislation on the subject during the current Session.