§ MR. D. MACALEESEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) if, during the recess, he brought before the Irish Government or the Commissioners of National Education the claims of work-mistresses in Irish schools for increased remuneration; and (2) whether, seeing that these workmistresses give constant attendance during school hours, and their remuneration is only £12 a year, increased by a few shillings in the results fees, will he give the matter early attention?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURRepresentations were made during the recess by the Commissioners to the Irish Government in relation to the remuneration of workmistresses in National schools, but the Treasury, having given these representations their best consideration, were unable to sanction the proposals of the Commissioners. As regards the second paragraph, I have already pointed out that workmistresses are not employed for the full school day, and that in the year 1886 their fixed salaries, with the approval of the Treasury, were augumented to the present amount. The number of workmistresses employed in mixed National schools was 843 in the year ended 31st December 1895, and in addition to the fixed salary of £12 they are paid results fees varying from sixpence to three shillings in respect of each girl passed.