§ Captain DONELANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the number, if any, of the five schools of six, seven and eight pupils which were paid Grants by the Board of Intermediate Education, Ireland, according to the Report of the Application of the Teachers' Salaries Grant for 1917, but which did not comply with the prescribed conditions of Rule 95 as to the definition of school?
§ Mr. DUKENone of the schools which, according to the last Report on the Teachers' Salaries Grant, had six, seven, or eight pupils, failed to comply with Rule 95 during the educational year in respect of which they received Grants. The Teachers' Salaries Grant paid in March last was distributed to managers of intermediate schools, to whom results fees were paid in respect of the school year immediately preceding distribution. The figures given in the Report are the numbers of pupils attending the schools when the returns were made in June last. Owing to the way in which the Grant is distributed, it is possible for a school to have qualified for the Grant in the educational year 1915–16, and yet not satisfy the definition of school in June, 1917.
§ Mr. O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when he proposes to announce his scheme for improved finances of secondary education in Ireland; what amount he proposes to give; and how it is to be distributed?
§ Mr. DUKEIt is proposed to apply a supplemental sum of about £50,000 for the purposes of intermediate education in Ireland, to be distributed in accordance with rules, a draft of which is before the Treasury.