§ MR. D. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether his attention has been drawn to a Resolution passed by the Belfast Teachers' Association, on the 2nd November last, to the effect that the pressure of the results system is increasing in severity year by year in the Belfast group of districts, and that the strain on both teachers and pupils is at the breaking point; was a copy of this Resolution sent to the head inspector, Mr. Stronge; and what action, if any, has been taken in the matter; is he aware that the Belfast Teachers' Association sent a letter to Mr. Stronge, on the 7th December last, stating that, if a Return were called for of the percentages of failures and No. 2 passes in the districts for the last five years, it would be found that they had increased every year, and in 1894 most of all; and did Mr. Stronge forward this letter to the Commissioners; and, if so, will he state with what result?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThere has not been sufficient time to obtain a Report on this Question, which I must ask the hon. Member to defer until Monday next.
§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, can he state the average rate of result fees per pupil earned in Cavan District No. 23 in the years 1885 and 1895, and the total results fees in same district and years; also the number of cases in which National School teachers in this district have appealed to the Education Commissioners against the examination of their pupils in 1885 and 1895; and, whether, in the cases of such appeals, results fees have been paid on the marking of the district inspector appealed against, or of the head inspector sent to examine the school; and, if on the former marking, why?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe average rate of results fees per pupil earned in the Cavan district in the year 1885 was 6s. 8¼d., and in 1895 6s. 7d. The total amount earned by way of results fees in 1885 was £2,543 14s. 6d., and in 1895 £2,408 7s. 6d. The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the information as to appeals, generally, could only be ascertained after careful investigation, which would occupy several days to carry out, but that if any cases of appeals be specifically brought to their notice a statement regarding them will be made out without delay.