§ MR. WILLIAM M'ARTHURasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If he can state why it is that while clerks connected with several of the Irish Public Offices and other officials belonging to the Irish branch of the Civil Service have been placed on a footing of equality with those in a corresponding position in England, the district inspectors of national schools in Ireland have not been placed in the same position as to salary and allowances with those in England, in accordance with a Resolution of the House of Commons of the 4th July, 1873, recommending the same?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS - BEACHSir, in consequence of the Resolution of the House of Commons in July, 1873, referred to by the hon. Member, a Departmental Committee was appointed by the late Government to inquire into the case of various officials belonging to the Irish branch of the Civil Service. In that inquiry the Treasury was represented, and also the Departments on which the inquiry was held, and the result has been a very considerable improvement in the position of various parties employed in the Irish Civil Service. I am quite aware that there are some eases in which parties holding nominally the same position as officers in England have not been placed on precisely the same footing; and Inspectors of Schools are in that class. Although the name of the office is the same in both countries, there is a difference in the position of the officer and his duties; but the position of these Inspectors has been very considerably improved. There were three classes under the old system. The first class had a salary commencing at £450 and rising by £10 yearly to £500. The salary now commences at £500 and rises by £15 per annum to £600 a-year. The second and third classes have had a similar increase; and the position of these classes has also been very much improved as to their allowances for travelling and personal expenses.