§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland in what year the Commissioners of National Education made the 236W regulation limiting the number of pupils that may be enrolled in national schools, and, seeing that there is a rule of the Board that all children aged three years and over may be so enrolled, will he say why an Order was made that none under six years should be enrolled in the Dooega (Achill) school; is he aware that the manager, the Reverend M. Colleran, P.P., made a request to the resident commissioner to allow grown-up children who were obliged to work during summer and autumn to attend this school during winter and spring, which offer was refused; will he say why the Commissioners did not build an addition to the school, since the necessity for it was first pointed out to and admitted by them twelve years ago; and, seeing that the educational and general interests of the district during the last eighteen years have suffered by a large number of children being deprived of educational facilities, will he now ask the Commissioners to permit all children of the district over six years old to be enrolled and to attend this school until such time after the War as the necessary additional accomodation can be provided?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Rule was first published in the Code for 1907–8, and in its present form in the Code for 1910–11. If the number of pupils in average attendance exceeds the limit for which accommodation is provided, the Commissioners of National Education require younger children to be excluded, and if the limit of average attendance is reached they may require that pupils under six years of age shall be excluded so as to permit of the enrolment of pupils over that ago who may seek admission to the school. I am informed that some private correspondence to the effect stated took place between the Rev. M. Colleran, P.P., and the Resident Commissioner of National Education. The proposed addition to the present schoolhouse was not proceeded with as it appeared that a new school in a more central position would have been more satisfactory. On the application of the manager, the Commissioners gave provisional sanction for the erection of a new schoolhouse, but the Board of Works reported that the site offered was not suitable, and the proposal was dropped. The Commissioners are at present in correspondence with the manager of the Dooega National School, who has already been advised that so long as there are other children available no child under six years of age may be placed on the rolls, and he 237W is now being asked for particulars of children over that age whom he desires to have admitted to the school.
§ Mr. CONDONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received a resolution from the South Tipperary County Council protesting against the Order of the Commissioners of National Education prohibiting national teachers who have been appointed to the commission of the peace from adjudicating as magistrates; and, if so, what steps, if any, he intends to take to have this Order withdrawn?
§ Mr. DUKEI have received the resolution referred to, and have been in communication with the Commissioners of National Education on the subject of the appointment of national school teachers to the magistracy in Ireland, but I have not any jurisdiction to make an effective Order of the kind suggested.