HC Deb 20 June 1884 vol 289 cc990-1
MR. HEALY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is it true that teachers in the poorest parts of the West of Ireland are deprived by the National Board of half "result fees" unless the pupils who, on account of their extreme poverty, are exempted from any school fees in those parts lay down shilling for shilling with National Board of the second moiety; were not the teachers paid the full amount of results fees a few years ago without any charge upon the pupils, and what is the cause of the change in the rule; and, is it the fact that the result of compelling children to pay "school fees" in those poor districts, where they were never obliged to pay, and where they can scarcely get clothing to cover themselves, is that many of them stay away from school because of their inability to pay the fees?

MR. TREVELYAN

It is true that, at the start, the Government paid the entire of the results fees earned by teachers without reference to contributions; but this was sanctioned only when the system was in its infancy, and has not been done since 1874. Several changes of practice were made from, time to time, and, in 1876, the Government sanctioned payment of a contingent moiety in schools in non-contributory Unions, on condition that the local contributions from all sources equalled such moiety. Unless those contributions equalled the whole moiety, nothing was paid by the Government. In 1880 this rule was relaxed in favour of the teachers, by allowing payment of so much of the contingent moiety as would be met by local contributions from all sources—not merely by school pence as indicated in the Question. The Commissioners on National Education are unaware of any cases where pupils are compelled to pay school fees contrary to usage, or where they are obliged to remain away from school owing to their inability to pay the fees demanded. Perhaps the hon. Member will give an instance?

MR. HEALY

said, he did not wish to give an instance, as it might be said that the teacher communicated with him; but he would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he would inquire into the state of facts in Connemara, with the object of seeing whether the people were not too poor to pay any contribution which would enable the teachers to get the benefit of results fees?

MR. TREVELYAN

Yes; I will look into the matter with special reference to pressure being put upon the pupils.