§ MR. BIGGARasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether there are in the direct service of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland any persons of sixty- five years of age or upwards; and, if so. how many of these are in the Education Office, Marlborough Street; how many are head or district inspectors of National Schools; and, whether there is any rule that such officials should retire at a stated age, as in the case of the school teachers connected with the same Board?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that there at present 13 persons in their direct employment who are 65 years of ago, or upwards. Of these, one is a clerk in their Office; two are District Inspectors; one is a Head Inspector; and the remaining nine are male teachers. There are also 14 female teachers above the age of 60. There is no rule that the officials of the Board, such as Inspectors or clerks, shall retire at 65 years of age. As a matter of course, they would not be continued in the service at that or any other age, if unfit for duty. A teacher also may be continued beyond the age of 6–5, if he makes a claim to that effect, and if the Commissioners are of opinion that his continuance would serve the interests of education.