§ Mr. FIELDasked the Chief Secretary whether he will consider the advisability of extending the operations of the Feeding of Children in Schools Bill to Ireland, seeing that the State is under the same obligations on this point in Ireland as in Great Britain; and whether he is aware that this work is being partially attempted by some philanthropic ladies owing to its urgency?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Act referred to by the hon. Member enables local education authorities in England to assist in the provision of meals for necessitous children and to defray the expenses out of the local rates. As national schools in Ireland are not under the control of local education authorities the Act is not applicable to Irish conditions. I am aware that in a number of national schools connected with convents in Ireland the children are provided with meals and that the work is being attempted by other philanthropic ladies in Dublin.