§ MR. DALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will explain why assistant teachers in national schools are not paid as much salary as assistant teachers in model schools?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe system of payment is somewhat different in the two eases, the staffs of the Model Schools being almost entirely dependent on the payments made to them by the Commissioners by whom they are appointed, whereas the payments made to teachers of ordinary National Schools are grants in aid towards the maintenance of those Schools. Moreover, the Model School Staffs have the responsibility of educating Pupil Teachers for the office of Teacher. Of late years, since the Irish Education Act of 1892 became operative, the Staffs of ordinary National Schools have become more dependent than formerly on the grants from the Commissioners. The whole question of the condition of the Model Schools, including their financial position, is at present under the consideration of a Committee of the whole Board.
§ MR. DALYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the assistant teachers in the National Schools do not perform the same duties as assistant teachers in the Model Schools for a similar salary?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe question of the hon. Member would point to paying these extra sums to the Model Schools rather than to assimilate the National Schools to the Model Schools.
§ MR. JOHN DILLON (Mayo, E.)Can the right hon. Gentleman say when we may expect the Report?
§ MR GERALD BALFOURNo, Sir, I am not at present in a position to give an answer to that question.
§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury what is the total amount of applications for grants to build National Schools now before the Irish Board of Works: and whether this sum was considered by the Treasury 962 when making up the Estimate for the present year?
§ MR. HANBURYApplications for grants for building National Schools are made, not to the Commissioners of Public Works, but to the Commissioners of National Education who decide the amounts to be given and the priority of the claims, having regard to the amount made available by Parliament. It was decided in 1895 after consultation with the Irish Government and the National Education Commissioners, that the most convenient arrangement for the latter body would be to fix the amount of the grant for a term of years and the sum, £10,000, in this year's Estimates is the result of that arrangement.
§ MR. DILLONThe right hon. Gentleman has not stated the total amount of the grant now under consideration.
§ MR. HANBURYI don't know that we have the information at the Treasury. That is rather a matter for the Commissioners.
§ MR. G. MURNAGHAN (Tyrone, Mid)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that teachers of national schools experience some difficulty in obtaining school books, copy books, and pens, owing to the long delay in forwarding the articles and because only one-half of the order is sent; and, will he call the attention of the Commissioners of National Education to this matter and to the importance of a full supply of books, etc., being in the schools?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThere has been a failure on the part of a contractor, newly appointed from the 1st April last, to supply books and school requisities within the prescribed time. It is hoped that in the course of a few days supplies will be received for issue to the schools concerned. The contractor has been warned that the contract will be cancelled unless the books, etc., are delivered forthwith.
§ MR. MURNAGHANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that teachers of national schools do not receive the amount due for result fees for a considerable amount of time from date of examination, and that in some cases two or three months elapse before 963 final payment is made; and, will steps be taken to have these payments made more promptly?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Results fees earned at the Annual Results Examinations on the passes given by the inspectors are, as a rule, paid within a month from the date of the receipt of the Reports in the office of the Commissioners. Where irregularities are observed in the course of the examination of the Reports, necessitating correspondence with inspectors or managers, it may not be possible to come to a final settlement, and to pay the fees, within the usual and prescribed time. In cases where troublesome correspondence is proceeding, and prolonged delay in settlement apprehended, efforts are made to pay so much of Results fees as safely can be discharged, pending the issue of the investigations upon which the final payment must depend. Every effort is directed to be made to have the payments made promptly; but under a system where the payments are made to the individual teachers, and are subject to various conditions unavoidable delays will sometimes occur.
§ MR. J. GIBNEY (Meath, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether Mrs. Elizabeth Carpenter, of Grangeguth, county Meath, was obliged to resign her position as school teacher on account of ill health, and after service of 18 years and five months; and, whether the Commissioners of National Education have refused compensation to Mrs. Carpenter; if so, could he state upon what grounds?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURMrs. Carpenter, who is 37 years of age, resigned from the 1st September, 1896, after a period of service as stated. The report of the District Inspector on her application for a retiring gratuity was not such as indicated a decided opinion on his part as to her permanent incapacity, and the manager of the School was informed that before the case could be certified to the Pension Department it would be necessary for Mrs. Carpenter to consult a specialist and obtain his certificate as to the permanent character of her malady. As soon as the required certificate is received the case will be further considered.