Mr. WILLIAM REDMONDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Commissioners of National Education during the course of last year notified the manager of the national schools at Par teen that the infant boys should be transferred to the girls' school, and justified that notification on the grounds that the girls' school was suitable for the purpose; whether the same Commissioners have, on 1844W 15th February last, informed the same manager that the same girls' school is not suitably equipped for the education of infants, and, that being so, to inquire what change has been made in the mean time in this school; and, with regard to the answer which the manager gave to the Commissioners, will he say whether it was a protest against the tone and terms of the Commissioners' letter to him?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs I have already informed the hon. Member, in reply to his question of 10th July last, the senior inspector reported that the Parteen Girls' National School was a "suitable" school within the meaning of Rule 127B, and the manager was so informed on 7th June, 1011. The manager was not satisfied, and, to avoid anything with the semblance of harshness in regard to the enforcement of their Rules, the Commissioners of National Education decided by order conveyed to him on 31st August, 1911, to postpone the application of Rule 127B to Parteen Boys' National School till 1st January, 1912, to give him an opportunity of providing equipment of the special character considered necessary before the infant boys could be transferred to the girls' school. The manager, however, took no action, and the case was again submitted to the Commissioners on 6th February, when it was ordered that the Grants should be with drawn from 31st March, 1912, unless the manager complied with the Commissioners' requirements. This he has now undertaken to do, but he questions the legality and propriety of the order of the Commissioners.