§ MR. CONWAY (Leitrim, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that successive Governments have acknowledged the justice of the claims of the Irish National Teachers to some beneficicial legislation; whether there is any intention this Session on the part of the Government to ameliorate the very hard lot of the teachers; whether there was a small increase made to the 1892 salaries of the teachers in 1879; whether the increase averaged £4 per teacher in the service; whether the total sum allocated to this purpose was £46,000; whether, considering the deductions made from the salaries of teachers for the purposes of the pension fund, and the loss of income consequent on the apathy of non - contributing unions, the average increase of £4 per teacher is practically illusory; and, whether, pending future remedial legislation for this most deserving class, he can see his way to recommend the Government to follow the precedent of 1879, by giving a grant in aid, say, equal to an average increase of salary of £10 per teacher in the service, which would for the present tide over dissatisfaction and difficulty?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said: The entire question relating to the position of the Irish National School teachers is most complex, and cannot properly be dealt with within the limits of a Question. The Government are not yet in a position to come to any decision in the matter.
§ MR. CONWAYIn consequence of the unsatisfactory answer of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman, I wish to give Notice that on the Estimates I will raise the whole question of the status of National School Teachers in Ireland.