§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL (Kerry, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland when will the reduction in the average attendance required for the first assistant in Irish 1253 national schools from sixty to fifty come into operation; whether assistants whose salaries have been withdrawn during the past twelve months owing to the fall of the average below sixty will then be paid; whether the reduction in the first assistant will apply also to the second assistant.
§ MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state when the reduction of the average attendance from sixty to fifty, qualifying an additional teacher in each school, will come into operation.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe provision for effecting this reduction cannot take effect until funds have been placed at the disposal of the Commissioners. I have stated that the matter is one for consideration in connection with the Development Grant Estimate. The sum of £24.000, or any lesser sum, would cover the estimated cost, for one year only, of the additional number of assistants that might be appointed or continued in the service under an average of fifty. On the assumption that provision for this amount will be made in the Development Grant Estimate for the current year I am inquiring whether it can take effect from the 1st April last. The question of reducing the average for more than one assistant has not been specially considered.