§ Mr. CHARLES CRAIGasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what sums the Department expended last year on the domestic economy schools held in Carrick-on-Suir, Dundrurn, Dunmanway, Kilmore, Moate, and Stradbally nunneries, respectively; were any Protestant girls in attendance at these schools; who has the right of admitting students; and what provision is made for safeguarding Protestant students from Roman Catholic religious influences in these schools?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe only sums expended directly by the Department last year on the institutions named were £60 in respect of Dundrum school, and £27 in respect of Dunmanway school. Local1816W committees of agriculture and technical instruction made grants to these institutions for training and maintenance of scholarship holders. The Department are not aware whether any Protestant girls were in attendance at the schools. Two similar schools under Protestant management have been recognised by the Department for the reception of scholarship holders. One of these schools, however, has ceased to exist. The right of admission of students is reserved by the school authorities. As regards the last part of the question, Protestant holders of scholarships presumably select the recognised school under Protestant management. Since the formation of the Department, what is called the religious difficulty has never arisen in any part of its work, and the word "safeguard" has never been mentioned.