HC Deb 04 November 1912 vol 43 cc872-4W
Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSON

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) the amount expended by the Department in the financial year 1911–12 upon instruction in technical schools and colleges, secondary schools conducted by members of conventual and monastic institutions, other Roman Catholic secondary schools, and Protestant secondary schools, respectively?

Mr. RUSSELL

The Return asked for by the hon. Member cannot be completely given as regards the financial year 1911–12, as the Returns for expenditure on technical instruction are calculated upon the basis of a school year beginning in August in the case of certain forms of technical instruction, and an agricultural year beginning in October in the case of other forms of technical instruction. The Returns for the school year and for the agricultural year 1911–12 are not yet fully available, and will not be for a considerable time longer. A single figure for 1911–12 can therefore only be in the nature of an approximation. The amount expended under the Department's schemes in the year 1911–12 upon instruction in various forms in schools, colleges and classes is estimated to be £228,000. This is made up of £175,000, contributed from the funds administered by the Department, and of £53,000 contributed from local rates administered through technical and agricultural committees. The Department have further expended in the same period for the teaching of experimental science, drawing, manual work and domestic economy in secondary schools, including trade preparatory schools, a sum of £33,377. This amount is earned in the form of Grants for the teaching of the subjects specified by all secondary schools, without distinction, which comply with the Department's published regulations, and, save in the case of trade preparatory schools, is based upon the following factors: the number of students under instruction in the subjects mentioned; the number of hours devoted to such instruction; and the quality of the teaching as tested by inspection. The Department do not classify these schools according to religious denominations, as they are not concerned with the teaching of any other subject in the school save those of their own programme. But of the total number of secondary schools in the country earning Grants under their programme, namely, 274, they understand the following to be the classification:—

(a) Schools conducted by members of Roman Catholic conventual or religious orders 131
(b) Other Roman Catholic secondary schools 39
(c) Protestant secondary schools 93
(d) Trade preparatory schools, undenominational 11
Total 274

The Grants earned by these classes of schools were respectively:—

  1. (a) £13,368
  2. (b) £4,344
  3. (c) £7,559
  4. (d) £6,106