§ Mr. CHARLES CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how much has been granted to the parish priest of Inishmore, in the Aran Islands, for school-building purposes during the eight years ended the 31st March, 1914; how many of the schools so built or improved are vested in the Commissioners and how many trustees; the name of the school which was closed for several months by order of the parish priest; why was the school closed; what steps did the Commissioners take to reopen the school; what became of the teacher; what steps the Board is taking to prevent the school being closed again; what local contributions were raised to supplement the building Grants; and what means exist on the island for the education of the children of the Protestant minority?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that Grants to the amount of £316 were sanctioned during the eight years ended the 31st March, 1914, towards the enlargement and improvement of four schoolhouses under the management of the parish priest of Aran Islands, all of which are vested in trustees. The Commissioners have no information available as to the alleged closing of any school for several months by order of the parish priest. The Oat-quarter Boys' National School on Inishmore Island had no pupils in attendance for a prolonged period from January, 1911, owing to the existence of a local boycott of the school, and the Commissioners were in consequence obliged to withdraw Grants from it from the 30th June, 1911. The pupils having resumed attendance in September, 1912, when a new teacher was appointed, the Commissioners restored their Grants to the school from the 18th of that month. The former teacher, having voluntarily retired, was granted a pension. The Commissioners do not see that any reason exists for taking further action regarding this school, which is at present in operation. The local contribution towards the works for the enlargement and improvement of the four schools above referred to was £17 2s. The number of Protestant children on the Inishmore Island is very small, and they have the opportunity of attending the national schools on the island, which are open to children of all denominations. Safeguards as to religious instruction in the schools are provided in the rules of the Commissioners.