HC Deb 28 January 1902 vol 101 cc1108-9
SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Wexford, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether the Local Government Board for Ireland have issued a sealed order against the Wexford County Council directing them to pay a sum of £30 on account of the inquiry held last year into the case of increased salaries awarded by the Local Government Board to certain county officers; if he is aware that £20 18s. of this amount is charged for shorthand writing at the inquiry, the Wexford County *The Notice of Motion was as follows: Mr. FLYNN: Assistant National Teacher (Ireland)—Return concerning Assistant National Teachers (Ireland):— Number of Assistant Teachers in National Schools from whom salary has been withdrawn on 31st day of December, 1901, through insufficient average attendance. Name of school thus deprived of portion of its teaching staff. Average yearly attendance in each such school. Gouncil having already paid a certain amount under this head, and how this sum has been arrived at for the report of an inquiry which only lasted a day and a half; and, in view of the circumstance that these shorthand notes have been utilised for the Return ordered by this House of the report of this inquiry, he will arrange that this charge shall not be made upon the Wexford County Council.

MR. WYNDHAM

The Local Government Board had no option but to charge these costs to the Council, it being mandatory on the Board to do so under Article 32 (3) of the Schedule to the Application of Enactments Orders, 1898. The item of £20 18s. is made up as follows: £4 4s. for attendance of the Shorthand Writer for more than three hours on each of the two days the inquiry lasted, and £16 14s. for transcribing 668 folios of evidence at 6d. per folio. No payment has been made by the Council to the Board in connection with this inquiry. The evidence taken was laid on the Table in deference to the wishes of the Hon. Baronet, but this fact would scarcely warrant transference to public funds of a charge for which the Council is legally liable. The cost to the Treasury of printing the Return was considerable.

In reply to a further question by Mr. James O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)

MR. WYNDHAM

said: The shorthand writer was paid the usual Treasury rates.