MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Board of National Education, Ireland, has reduced by one-tenth for the past three quarters the grant or salary of Mr. John Galligan, teacher of Dem National School, County Cavan, under the new rule 102 G, which requires that a school must be open at least 200 days in the year, and that Dem School was only open for 181 days; Whether he is aware that the same rule admits exceptions, as, for instance, the school being closed under medical authority to prevent the spread of epidemic disease, or for other unavoidable cause, intimation having been duly given to the Commissioners, and that the unavoidable cause of the closing of Dem School was the illness of Mr. Galligan, and that medical certificates of his inability to attend school were sent in due time to the Board of National Education on the 10th and 25th October, 1898, respectively; and whether he will recommend the Board of Education to reconsider the matter, and grant Mr. Galligan the full amount which, but for his illness, he would have earned and received.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURI am informed by the Commissioners that the reduction in salary was really not so large as stated, and that it was fully justified by the circumstances. The normal period of a school year is 46 weeks, or 230 school days, but a liberal allowance of-time is given during which a school may be closed owing to exceptional and unavoidable circumstances. The Commissioners state that the rule referred to in the question did not apply in this case. The absence of Mr. Galligan may have 1060 been necessary, but the closing of the school for such an excessive period as 80 school days in 1898 was not unavoidable. The teacher was off duty through illness for two months, and did not, as required by rule, appoint a substitute after one month's absence.