§ MR. WILLIAM ABRAHAM (Limerick, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the cases of national school teachers in Ireland, whose schools having been closed consequent upon an epidemic prevailing in their districts, will thereby be deprived of result fees and Customs and Excise grants; if he can see his way to arrange, when such schools are re-opened, that reasonable time will be allowed to enable teachers to prepare pupils for examination; and if, pending the results of such examinations, the teachers will be paid the same amount of fees and grants as last year, the difference to be arranged in subsequent payments?
§ *MR. JACKSONThe Commissioners of National Education report that the fixed salaries of the national school teachers are paid in full in the cases referred to by the hon. Member, but the result fees only on the results of the examinations, and the Customs and Excise grant, under the terms of the Act of Parliament, only on the average daily attendance. Reasonable time beyond the regular results period in cases of epidemic is allowed when such concession is sought to enable 457 teachers to prepare their pupils more effectively for examination. The course suggested in the last paragraph of the question would not be feasible.