§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that the Commissioners of National Education have ordered the closing of Crossan National School, in the parish of Kilskeery, county Tyrone, and the transfer of the Protestant children from that school to the Dromore (No. 2) school, which is situated four miles distant, and that the select vestry of Dromore refused to agree to any change which would affect their rights in the Dromore school, in consequence of which the Commissioners have refused to pay the salaries of the teachers of the Dromore school; will he state the salary paid to the teacher of the Crossan National School and the cost of conveying the Crossan children by van to and from the Dromore school; and whether, having regard to the hardship inflicted upon the children and the incenvenience caused to parents, he will request the Commissioners to reconsider their decision in this case?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education decided to withdraw their grants from Crossan national school county Tyrone, owing to the low average attendance, and as the educational needs of the locality could be met by the conveyance of the majority of the pupils to Dromore (No. 2) national schools by means of a covered van. It was also determined that the latter school should be under the 1179W joint managership of the Methodist minister—the former manager of Crossan national school—and the rector of the parish of Dromore, who had previously been recognised as sole manager of the school. As the select vestry of the parish of Dromore, in whom the Dromore (No. 2) national school is vested, declined to agree to this arrangement, the Commissioners have decided to withhold their grants from that school until their wishes in the matter of amalgamation have been complied with. The salary of the teacher of Crossan national school is £44 per annum. She receives in addition augmentation grant amounting to £7 per annum, and a payment from residual capitation grant which amounted to £3 10s. for the last financial year. It was estimated that the cost of a van service would be about £40 per annum, but no arrangements for this service have been completed. The Commissioners are not aware that any hardship would be inflicted on the pupils of the Crossan national school by the closing of that school, and they see no reason to depart from their decision in the matter.