§ Mr. KERR-SMILEYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what sums of money were expended during the six years ended the 31st March, 1912, on the erection of vested schools that are wholly built at the 2554W public expense; what portion of this money was expended on vested schools under Roman Catholic management; and what portion on schools under Protestant management?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe total amount of the Grants sanctioned by the Commissioners of National Education during the six years ended the 31st March, 1912, towards the erection of vested schools under Roman Catholic management to be built wholly at the expense of the State was £10,035 13s. ld. The amount actually expended on these schoolhouses to the 31st March, 1912, was £5,465 1s. 10d. In no case has a Grant of the total cost of the erection of a school under Protestant management been sanctioned. Grants in excess of two-thirds of the estimated cost are sanctioned only in the case of schools in exceptionally poor localities where the Commissioners are satisfied that one-third of the cost of the building cannot be contributed locally, and a Grant of the total cost is sanctioned only in the poorest districts where even a small local contribution cannot reasonably be expected. Of the fourteen cases in which a Grant of the total cost has been sanctioned thirteen are in the poorest and most congested districts of the counties of Donegal, Mayo, and Kerry, and the fourteenth in an exceedingly poor district of the county Tyrone.