§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) on what grounds was the teacher of Larah Male National School, County Cavan, whose pupils were examined on drawing by the Inspector on 31st August last, refused results fees; (2) is he aware that in about two-thirds of the schools in Ireland drawing is not taught, owing to the difficulty of getting the Treasury to provide the money, except on conditions which proved to be impracticable; (3) has the Dublin Trades Council sent the Education Commissioners a Resolution requesting that drawing be taught in all national schools; and (4) whether, seeing that Head Inspectors Hamilton and Connellan have reported that drawing can be successfully taught by teachers unable to obtain formal certificates in drawing, and that the teacher in question has submitted satisfactory specimens of drawing executed by him to the Education Commissioners, will he reconsider his decision and cause results fees to be paid in such cases?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe District Inspector gave the teacher of the school referred to an opportunity of executing a specimen of drawing at the examination held in August last, but the teacher did not avail himself of the opportunity, and consequently the Commissioners are unable to satisfy themselves as to his competency to give efficient instruction in that subject. It is true that in a large proportion of national schools drawing is not taught. The scale of results fees sanctioned by the Treasury in drawing varies from 2s. 6d. to 5s. for each pupil who obtains a pass. This is available for every national school where a teacher qualified in the subject is employed. The resolution referred to in the third paragraph has been received. The teacher of the Larah 383 School submitted specimens of map drawing alleged by him to have been executed so far back as 1884, but these could not be regarded as sufficient evidence of qualification to give instruction in freehand drawing. The Commissioners, however, will give him another opportunity of satisfying them as to his competency, and should the result be satisfactory they will sanction the payment of results fees in his case. I need hardly add that the decision in these matters rests, not with the Chief Secretary, but with the Commissioners.