§ MR. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, under the rules of the Board of National Education in Ireland, ordinary assistant teachers are paid the same, no matter to what class they belong; whether assistant teachers in model schools and training schools are, 1626 notwithstanding this rule, paid according to class and also for extra duty; whether Sir Patrick Kerran has frequently represented the injustice of the rule in question to the Treasury without effect; and whether, in allocating the funds available this year for education in Ireland, provision will be made to enable this rule to be modified so as to treat ordinary assistant teachers on the same footing as those in model schools and training schools, and thereby give them some incentive to rise to a higher class?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURWill the hon. Gentleman be good enough to repeat the question to-morrow?
§ MR. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the difficulty which has arisen in many cases in Ireland in obtaining sites for national teachers' dwellings; and whether the Government would assent to a Bill providing for the acquisition of such sites compulsorily?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt is a fact, I believe, that difficulty has been experienced, but I do not propose to submit a Bill to provide for the compulsory acquisition of sites.
§ MR. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is the fact that at examinations for results under the Irish National Board of Education the teacher is not allowed to see the questions put by the Inspector; whether a different rule prevails in England; and whether the Board will consider the advisability of modifying the Irish practice, which has given rise to great complaint?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Commissioners of Education are not aware that such a practice prevails, and I believe that the rule followed is the same as that in England.
§ MR. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that considerable dissatisfaction exists amongst teachers with the reading books in use in Irish National Schools, as being unsuitable for children; how long is it since the books in question were compiled; and whether the National Board propose to modernise these books or revise them in any way?
§ MR A. J. BALFOURThe Commissioners of National Education report that from time to time dissatisfaction in the matter mentioned has been expressed, but that the books can hardly be described as unsuitable, seeing that 94 per cent. of the children examined in them in 1889 passed and earned result fees for their teachers. The books were compiled in 1867, and have since been improved from time to time. They are now undergoing a thorough revision.