§ Mr. O'MALLEYasked whether the National Board of Education proposes to carry out its expressed intention of making a second language necessary for admission to the Irish training colleges in the year 1913; and, if not, what are the reasons for its change of policy?
§ Mr. BIRRELLProposals have been made by the Commissioners of National Education in favour of the payment of fees for instruction where Irish is not taken up in national schools in French, Latin or German. These proposals have been under the consideration of the Treasury who have not seen their way to give effect to them. The Commissioners in view of this decision do not consider it desirable at present to prescribe as a condition for entrance to a training college the knowledge of a second language.