§ MR. JOSEPH DEVLIN (Kilkenny, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Dr. Starkie, who is in receipt of £1,500 from the Irish Primary or Education Board as a paid commissioner, acted with his sanction in absenting himself from his duties in the Education Office, Dublin, while accompanying Messrs. Dale and Stephens over the country on the business of another, the Intermediate Board; whether Dr. Starkie, during the period of such abstention from the duties of his office, drew his salary out of the National Education Vote, together with his expenses of support and locomotion; and, if so, to what extent from May last to the present date.
§ MR. WYNDHAMDr. Starkie mentioned to the Under-Secretary that he had been invited by Messrs. Dale and Stephens to accompany them. As a member of the Board of Intermediate Education he had a right to visit intermediate schools, and the sanction of Government is unnecessary to his making such visits. The reply to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative. I have no information as to the duration of his absence from Dublin.