In a series of correspondences, the Bishop of Limerick, Edward Thomas O’Dwyer, has raised the issue of the Provincial Training Colleges’ claim for free homes and financial support from the government. He emphasizes the importance of treating all colleges impartially and argues that the claim is essential for primary education.

The Bishop questions the government’s discrimination between the Irish Development Fund allocation of £50,000 for the Marlboro’ Street College and £5,000 yearly to increase the number of King’s Scholars in other colleges, while the claim of the three provincial colleges, amounting to about £3,000 per year, is not considered in the same manner. He requests an explanation for this differentiation and raises the principle of equality put forth by Mr Balfour.

He points out that the claim for “free homes” for provincial training colleges should be treated on equal grounds as the claim for Dublin Colleges’ “free homes,” and urges the responsible government member to address this matter for the sake of education.

The claim has gained support from various Irish members of Parliament, and the Bishop insists on the urgency and importance of considering it in the broader context of the national education system.

Limerick Echo – Tuesday 10 January 1905