§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, as a result of the new intermediate rules, no provision is made for the teaching of Irish history previous to the year 1485; whether he is aware that when the preparatory grade was retained Irish history was not presumed to start before the date of the Norman Conquest of England; and whether steps will be taken to secure that some knowledge of the early period of Irish history is required from pupils in Irish intermediate schools, in view of the fact that the removal of the preparatory grade has now reduced Irish history to a period consisting of the last four centuries?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe courses in Irish history in the programme of the Intermediate Education Board for 1913 commence at the year 1485 A.D. For the year 1912 the course for the Preparatory Grade covered the period from 1066 A.D. to 1485 A.D. The Board, however, hope that the Irish history of the period before 1485 will be taught in the Preparatory Schools, and so far as possible their inspectors will use their influence to see that this is done.