§ Mr. FIELDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many horticultural and 986W farm gardens have been started by and are at present worked directly under the control of the Commissioners of National. Education; where those plots are located and the number of scholars attending; and whether further financial assistance will be granted to enable an extension of this utilitarian teaching over the rural districts in Ireland?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that there are at present 104 school gardens recognised in connection with national schools under the scheme of rural science and horticulture laid down in the Commissioners' Code. The counties in which the school gardens are situated and the approximate number of children in fourth and higher standards under instruction in each county are given in the following table:—
County. Number of recognised Gardens. Approximate number of Pupils in 4th and higher standards under instruction. Antrim … 2 39 Armagh … 4 60 Carlow … 12 215 Clare … 2 34 Cork … 5 107 Donegal … 2 20 Dublin … 4 115 Fermanagh … 1 14 Galway … 4 80 Kerry … 1 17 Kildare … 13 212 Kilkenny … 3 60 King's … 6 120 Limerick … 8 184 Longford … 1 20 Louth … 6 112 Meath … 1 20 Queen's … 13 185 Roscommon … 2 47 Sligo … 3 35 Tipperary … 1 22 Waterford … 1 37 Wicklow … 8 142 Wexford … 1 20 Total … 104 1,917 This total does not include boys in standards lower than fourth receiving practical instruction. The number of such pupils may be estimated at about 300. Provision is made in the Vote for public-education (Ireland) for expenditure in 987W connection with the instruction of boys in the fourth and higher standards in school gardening and towards the cost of implements and seeds for garden plots. The Treasury have intimated their willingness to consider a proposal for the extension of this scheme to girls attending national schools in connection with the estimate for the coming financial year.