MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Commissioners of National Education decided last June that with the first payment of the consolidated income would be remitted the equivalent of a full year's results fees, to teachers who would in every case receive full payment for all services, leaving no arrears; and that, if the results period terminated on 31st March, 1900, the teacher would be paid with the June instalment of income, the equivalent of twelve months results fees up to the 31st March, 1900, £20, and also one-fourth of his consolidated income; and seeing that the first payment of the new income was made to a number of teachers, and that in no case was the equivalent of the year's results fees paid, whether he can say why it was withheld, and when it will be paid.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURThe Commissioners of National Education decided to make payments as stated in the question, and issued a circular on the subject. In a very large number of cases the equivalents of the results fees were issued two days after the consolidated payments for June quarter, and in most of the remaining cases the equivalents have since been sent, and the issue will soon be completed in all cases. It was impossible to complete the remittance of the equivalents concurrently with the consolidated payments, owing to the shortness of the time at the disposal of the office staff and the complexities of the calculations involved.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland can he state whether any of the teachers of Agricultural schools under the National Board have been paid results fees for the year ended 31st March, 1900; and, if not, what is the cause of the delay.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURThese schools have yet to be visited by the inspectors 444 to report specially as to the claims of the teachers. Delay has necessarily taken place owing to the transfer of the agricultural inspector to the new Department of Agriculture. The equivalent grant will be paid as soon as possible.