§ DR. TANNERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the case of Mr. James Sweeny, a National school teacher, of Dunmanus, parish of Goleen, County Cork; whether he resigned his school, owing to ill health, after 22 years spent in the service of the Commissioners of Education, and forwarded all the necessary papers to the Pension Office, asking for the retiring allowance due to him; whether he received no answer for three weeks, at the end of which time he died; and whether the allowance in question will be given to the struggling family of Mr. Sweeny, who were dependent upon him?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt appears that the late National school teacher referred to, who was dying of phthisis of some duration, continued on in the service until within a short time of his death, when he made application to retire on gratuity in lieu of pension. Before the application could be finally disposed of (there being necessary inquiries to be made), the teacher died. I regret there is no power to award any allowance to the deceased's family in the matter; but the premiums paid by the teacher to the Superannuation Fund have been returned, with interest thereon, to his father.