Irish Universities Act, 1908

Grants in aid of universities and colleges.

44 & 45 Vict. c. 52.

29 & 30 Vict. c. 39.

7.(1) The sum of twenty thousand pounds payable under the Royal University of Ireland Act, 1881, shall, instead of being paid as provided by that Act, be paid, as to one half thereof to the new university having its seat at Dublin, and, as to one half thereof to the new university having its seat at Belfast.

(2) There shall be annually paid out of moneys provided by Parliament for the general purposes of the new university having its seat at Belfast, and the constituent colleges of the new university having its seat at Dublin, the sums specified in Part I. of the Third Schedule to this Act.

(3) There shall be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament such sums as the governing body of either of the new universities or any of the constituent colleges of the new university having its seat at Dublin may require, and the Treasury may approve, for purchasing lands and providing or improving the necessary buildings and equipment for the university or college, not exceeding the maximum sum specified in Part II. of the Third Schedule to this Act.

(4) Any sums paid under this section shall be applied by the governing body of the university or college, as the case may be, in accordance with their charter or statutes, but no such sum shall be applied for the provision or maintenance of any church, chapel, or other place of religious worship or observance, or for the provision or maintenance of any theological or religious teaching or study:

Provided that nothing in this provision shall prevent the recognition by the governing body of the university of any professor of or lecturer in theology or divinity as a professor of the university so long as the professorship is founded and maintained entirely by means of private benefaction, or the use of any building belonging to the university or college for any teaching given by such professor, or for any other religious teaching no part of the cost of which is defrayed out of public funds. But no student shall be compelled to attend any such theological teaching, or religious instruction, and no professor of or lecturer in theology or divinity shall be eligible for membership of the General Board of Studies or of any Faculty other than the Faculty of Theology.

(5) The grants paid under this section shall be in lieu of any grants payable at the time of the passing of this Act, either out of the Consolidated Fund or moneys provided by Parliament, to or for the benefit of the Royal University of Ireland, Queen’s College, Belfast, Queen’s College, Cork, or Queen’s College, Galway, and shall be deemed to be in full discharge of all past or present claims of any such university or college, or of any person holding or having held any office in any such university or college, to be maintained or paid out of public money, or to receive any portion of public money by way of salary, pension, allowance, or otherwise in respect of that office, and the liability to meet any such claim shall, for the purposes of this Act, be treated as a liability of the university or college in connection with which the claim arises.

Any such liability to meet a claim for pensions shall be a first charge upon any money provided by Parliament under this section for the purposes of the university or college liable to meet the claim.

(6) The governing body of each of the new universities and the governing bodies of the constituent colleges of the new university having its seat at Dublin respectively shall prepare annually, in such form as the Treasury shall direct, accounts of all receipts and expenditure, capital and income, under their control, and within three months after the expiration of the year to which the accounts relate shall transmit the same to the Controller and Auditor-General to be audited, certified, and reported upon in conformity with the powers and regulations prescribed in the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act, 1866, for rendering and auditing appropriation accounts, and the accounts, with the reports of the Controller and Auditor-General thereon, shall be laid before the House of Commons not later than three months after the date on which they were transmitted for audit, if Parliament be then sitting, and, if not sitting, within fourteen days after Parliament next assembles.

(7) Nothing in this section shall preclude any money being provided by Parliament in addition to the sums provided under this section, either in augmentation of any sums contributed for the purpose of the universities or colleges from other sources, or otherwise.