§ MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, if his attention has been called to the public complaint made by the Very Rev. Canon Phelan of delay of over three months, without tenable cause assigned, of the payment of the salary of the 684 monitor of the Slieverue National School Will he say what official is responsible for originally withholding this salary until public complaint was made, and has he been censured or dismissed; have the National Board made any, and, if so, what effort to reduce expense in regard to monitors in model schools; is there any difference between the average attendance required to entitle model schools to employ monitors at Government expense and that of ordinary schools; and can he give the percentage of model school pupils who are Protestants.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WYNDHAM,) DoverThe official who dealt with the case refused payment for the quarter ended 30th September, 1901, on the ground that the average attendance was insufficient for the yearly period then ended, as it had been insufficient for four previous yearly periods. This action was in strict accordance with the rules laid down for the guidance of the office. The manager having appealed, was informed on 19th November, 1901, that the case must await the receipt of the December quarterly returns. Salary was paid to the monitor on 15th January, 1902, as an exceptional case, the returns showing an increase of attendance which, it is expected, will be maintained. No unnecessary expense is incurred for monitors in model schools. Monitors are appointed to model schools on the same average attendance, and are paid at the same rates, as in ordinary National Schools. According to the most recent returns Protestants of all denominations constitute 75 per cent. of the pupils in attendance at the model schools.