§ Mr. O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the present demand for the teaching of Irish in Irish schools, there are only seven training colleges qualifying only eighty-three students for Irish; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made as to the changes necessary in order to secure that all students shall be taught Irish in a thorough and scientific manner during the two years of their training course?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs I have already informed the hon. Member, six out of the seven training colleges made provision for the instruction of the students who elect to take up Irish as an optional subject. Two hundred and ninety-nine such students have obtained certificates in Irish during the past six years, and in addition, in the same period 447 teachers qualified for the Board's certificate in Irish at the annual examinations. During the period from 1906 to 1910 the special colleges which have been established for the teaching of Irish have returned the names of 692 teachers as having qualified at the courses held in those colleges. With regard to the second paragraph of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on 9th August last.