I move "that a sum not exceeding £625 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ended 31st March, 1924, for expenditure in respect of Endowed Schools, £313 having been voted on account."

The net increase in this Estimate arises solely from the diminution anticipated in the "appropriations in aid." It represents a sum recoverable from the Northern Government of Ireland in respect of endowments recoverable by the Saorstát,

The only point that arises is whether or not this Department should be merged with some of the other departments administering education. It seems rather strange to maintain this as a separate department with a Secretary who gets £713 for administering such a comparatively small sum of money. I assume under this long promised Ministries Bill we will have this department merged in some one of the other departments instead of keeping it as a separate one. I quite appreciate it is a legacy from the old times.

The Deputy's view is quite correct. As this department appears in the Estimates it is merely a continuation of the old form of administration, and by no means implies that it will have a separate existence as a department in the future.