§ MR. MURPHY (Kerry, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that teachers trained in Irish colleges are graded as uncertified for two years after appointment in England, with the result that their salaries are considerably reduced; and whether he proposes to take any steps to alter this arrangement.
§ MR. BIRRELLI think that the statements in the question are not altogether accurate. It is true that teachers trained in Irish colleges who come to England immediately on leaving those colleges are not eligible for recognition in this country as certificated 1042 teachers until they have received their diplomas from the Irish Commissioners of Education; and that those Commissioners I require two years of satisfactory teaching service, subsequent to the training college course, as a condition of granting those diplomas. But I do not think that this offers any ground for interference on my part, beyond that measure of relaxation which has been already made in this year's as compared with last year's code. It must be remembered that to give, as is suggested by the hon. Member, to these Irish candidates full recognition as certificated teachers in this country immediately after leaving the Irish training colleges, would render the young persons eligible for permanent head teacherships of public elementary schools—thus giving them in this country an advantage which thy are not given, at that stage, in Ireland under the Irish Regulations.
§ MR. MURPHYBut Irish teachers, I can show, lose £20 or £30 a year by it.
§ MR. BIRRELLI shall be glad to have information as to that.