HC Deb 18 December 1906 vol 167 cc1248-50
MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL (Kerry, W.)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that an assistant teacher was appointed since the 1st of July last in each of the following schools in Irish-speaking districts in the county of Galway: Selerna Boys, Selerna Girls, Spiddal Girls, Claregalway Girls, and Lackagh Boys, and that the teachers who were appointed had not the requisite oral knowledge of Irish referred to in the note to Rule of Commissioners re Regulations; if so, will he explain why the appointments were sanctioned in contravention of the rule; whether any applications were received from candidates who had the necessary knowledge; and, if not, what steps those responsible for the administration of primary education in Ireland intend to take to meet the demand for the services of suitable teachers for Irish-speaking localities. The commissioners of National Education inform me that all the appointments mentioned in the Question were made before 12th September, 1906, when the code for 1906–7, containing the footnote alluded to, was issued to the managers of national schools. These appointments were all made by the local managers, and the Commissioners have no information as to whether any applications were submitted for the positions by candidates possessing an oral knowledge of Irish. As regards the last portion of the Question, the Commissioners include Irish as an optional subject in the programme for admission to training colleges. In most of the colleges provision is made for the teaching of the Irish language. Prizes are awarded annually by the Commissioners to encourage the study of the language in the colleges, and facilities are afforded to teachers for attending

Training Colleges. Number of new Students summoned in the year beginning September 1906. Number of those who rank in the Third Grade (the highest grade in which any of them was recognised). Number of said Students who before entering took Irish as an optional subject.
Marlborough Street 171 142 5
St. Patrick's, Drumcondra 96 67 29
Our Lady of Mercy, Blackrock 133 80 27
Church of Ireland, Kildare Place 70 24 Nil
De la Salle, Waterford 99 25 44
St. Mary's, Belfast 57 43 25
Mary Immaculate, Limerick 49 27 18

As the authorities of each college arrange their own terms of admission, the Commissioners have no knowledge of the colleges under local management that place Irish as an obligatory subject to qualify for entrance. In the Marlborough Street Training College, which is under the Commissioners' management, Irish is placed as an optional subject.

courses of instruction in the special Irish colleges.

MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the number of students summoned to each training college for national teachers in Ireland in the year beginning September, 1906; the number of those so summoned in the various grades; the number in each college who, before entering, took Irish as an optional subject; the colleges that place Irish as an obligatory subject to qualify for entrance, and the colleges that place it as an optional subject.

(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Commissioners of National Education have furnished me with the following statement, which gives the particulars asked for so far as they know them:—