§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the average attendance in National schools necessary for the retention of assistants has yet been reduced from 70 to 60; and, if not, whether assistants will be retained and paid in schools with an average quarterly attendance of 60 pupils pending the settlement of the question?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThis matter has now been arranged, and the Treasury have agreed to provide funds for a relaxation of the present Rules, entitling a school to one or more assistants. A new scale has been settled, by which an average attendance of 40 but under 60 will secure the services of a monitor; 60 to 85, one assistant and a monitor; 85 to 95, one assistant and two monitors; 95 to 130, two assistants and two monitors; 130 to 140, two assistants and three monitors, and so on.