§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1600 What is the cause of the delay in the National Education Board sanctioning the gratuity to William Hurson, Bock National School, Tyrone, who resigned on the 30th of May; and, is it the fact that if the man dies before the order is made the money will lapse to the Treasury?
§ MR. TREVELYANI am informed that there was no avoidable delay in dealing with this case. The teacher's application was received in the Pension Office on the 10th of June, and thence transmitted to the Education Office. On the 19th of June the Commissioners, having certified the case, forwarded it to the Pension Department for gratuity—which will be paid by that Department on proof of existence and identity. There is a Treasury Regulation disallowing payment of retiring gratuities where teachers die before the award is made; but the money would not lapse to the Treasury, but to the Teachers' Pension Fund.