HC Deb 14 December 1906 vol 167 c836
MR. MURPHY (Kerry, E.)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that the limit of age in connection with the forthcoming examination for junior inspectors, excludes several school teachers who proposed to compete; and whether, seeing that the limit of age for such teachers was thirty-nine years, in consideration of being already in the service of the Commissioners of Education, the Commissioners can state the ground for the alteration in the present examination?

(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that, under former regulations, the maximum limit of age for inspector's assistants was thirty-nine years in the case of candidates who were national school teachers. This fact was taken into account by the Commissioners when the age limits for junior inspectors were recently under consideration. The Commissioners, however, desire to secure the services of young and active men for the position, and as the work is very laborious, involving much travelling and exposure to the weather, they fixed the maximum age at thirty-five.