§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the number of pupils who are at present maintained, wholly or partially, at the expense of boards of guardians in the Cabra Deaf and Dumb Institution, the Ulster Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Institution, and any other Irish institutions for similar purposes, respectively; what grants are made by boards of guardians to each of such institutions, respectively; whether such institutions are inspected by Local Government Board inspectors; whether any complaints have been received with regard to the treatment of pupils in any of such institutions; and what standard of qualification, if any, is exacted by the Local Government Board 1978W from members of monastic or conventual institutions who act as teachers in institutions for the deaf, dumb, or blind?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere are at present 1,011 persons maintained at the expense, of the Poor Rate in institutions for the blind, deaf and dumb, idiots and imbeciles. No Parliamentary Grants are made for these institutions, but boards of guardians can pay out of the rates the expense of the maintenance of any destitute poor deaf and dumb child under the age of eighteen, and in the case of similarly afflicted persons over that age they can pay a sum not exceeding five shillings weekly; the amount to be paid is a matter of agreement, and the Local Government Board have no return of the total sums so paid. The institutions in question are inspected before being approved of under Section 14 of 6 and 7 Vic, cap. 92, but are not periodically visited and reported on by the Board's inspectors, nor is there any statutory authority authorising such inspection. Complaints were received some years ago against the management of one of these institutions, and the subject-matter of the complaints was duly inquired into. The Board are not authorised to require any such standard of qualification as indicated in the latter portion of the question.