§ MR. W. FIELDI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in view of the fact that result fees are allowed for pupils in national schools under fifth class, and that pupils in Irish speaking districts remain in school after attaining fourth class, whether the Commissioners of Education are prepared to allow result fees for passes in Irish to pupils in all classes; whether tablets are used in national schools for instructing in Irish; whether the Com- 583 missioners of Education are prepared to reduce the price of Irish books; and whether the Inspectors in Irish speaking districts speak Irish, and how many?
MR. J. MORLEYThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that the existing arrangement limiting the award of results fees for proficiency in the Irish language to pupils in the fifth and sixth classes was only determined after mature consideration, and that at present they see no sufficient reason for altering the arrangement. Tablets are not used for instructing in Irish, but the primer of the rudiments of the language is supplied at the low price of 1½d. per copy. The Commissioners are not prepared to reduce the price of these books, which are now sold at first cost price. The Commissioners are not aware of the number of Inspectors who can speak Irish, but two of them are qualified to do so, having passed an examination in the language when candidates for Inspectorships.