§ Mr. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the nuns in charge of Newtownforbes Industrial School, county Longford, have, at a very large outlay, provided industrial schools capable of accommodating a large number of pupils; whether within the past few months, owing to the obstruction of the industrial school inspectors, the number of pupils have steadily fallen, and a further falling off is expected; whether quite recently the inspectors refused to allow two Dublin children to be sent to Newtownforbes for no cause assigned, and these children are now wandering about the streets of Dublin; and whether in the interests of such institutions in Ireland the Government propose to give some assistance to enable these institutions to pay their way and not have to close down as at present seems likely?
§ Mr. DUKEThe inspectors of reformatory and industrial schools do not interfere in regard to the sending of children to industrial schools, and I am assured there is no foundation for the suggestions that they have been done so in the cases which the hon. Member mentions. An increase of 6s. per week in the capitation Grant has been sanctioned by the Treasury in respect of each child in a reformatory or industrial school towards whose maintenance the local authority is prepared to contribute a similar amount.