§ MR. SEXTONasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether payment has yet been made on the results of the last May examinations of schools and classes in Ireland in connection with the Department of Science and Art, South Kensington; whether it is true that the English and Scotch teachers are usually paid at a much earlier period of the year; and, whether steps could not be 1179 taken to insure payment to the Irish science teachers at least before the reopening of the classes in October?
§ MR. MUNDELLASir, in reply to the first Question of the hon. Gentleman, about 85 per cent of the claims sent in from Irish schools have been already paid. English and Scotch claims are paid a little earlier than Irish, owing to the necessity of referring the latter to the Commissioners of National Education in Dublin. I should be glad if these claims could be settled earlier, and I will see if anything can be done to quicken the payment. Many of them are not sent to us till after the re-opening of the classes in October, and at this moment 24 schools have not sent in their claims.
§ MR. SEXTONsaid, he understood that the delay occurred through the Board of National Education. Could the right hon. Gentlemen consider whether the time occupied by that Board should be limited?
§ MR. MUNDELLAsaid, that was exactly the point engaging their attention, and they were in communication on the subject with the Board of Education.