§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many teachers completed their course of training in the various training colleges in Ireland during the years 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, and 1906; how many of those have since been employed in Ireland; how many have come to England; what is the cost of training each teacher; whether he has any official information showing that the exodus of trained teachers from Ireland is due to the rate of salaries paid in Ireland, and more especially to assistant teachers; whether it is proposed to consider the salaries of Irish teachers as a whole, and make them in some way proportionate to the importance of the work they discharge.
§ (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the number of teachers who com-
| Training Colleges. | 1900. | 1901. | 1902. | 1903. | 1904. | 1905. | 1906. |
| Marlborough Street (Dublin) | 156 | 165 | 184 | 144 | 181 | 123 | 122 |
| St. Patrick's (Drumcondra, Dublin) | 103 | 94 | 99 | 90 | 103 | 74 | 61 |
| Our Lady of Mercy (Blackrock, Dublin) | 92 | 76 | 92 | 73 | 92 | 76 | 126 |
| Church of Ireland (Dublin) | 60 | 51 | 71 | 66 | 72 | 59 | 63 |
| De La Salle (Waterford) | 72 | 77 | 84 | 73 | 68 | 59 | 67 |
| St. Mary's (Belfast) | nil | 18 | 77 | 40 | 63 | 54 | 53 |
| Mary Immaculate (Limerick) | nil | nil | 25 | 50 | 38 | 59 | 48 |
| Total | 483 | 481 | 632 | 536 | 617 | 504 | 540 |
§
The Commissioners are unable to say with any degree of accuracy how many of these teachers have since been employed in Ireland. The latest statistics as to the number of teachers who have gone to England is contained in my reply to the Question of the hon. Member for East Cork on 25th June last.†The cost of training of each teacher depends on whether the student is a man or a woman, and whether entered for a one-year's or a two-years' course. Grants for resident King's scholars are as follows:—(a) A fixed grant of £50 for each man in training for one year, and of £100 for each man in training for two years; (b) A fixed grant of £35 for each woman in training for one year, and of £70 for each woman in training for two years; (c) In addition, a bonus of £10 for each man of the one-year's course of training, and of £20 for each man of the two-years course of training, after two years probationary service of a satisfactory character in the actual work of teaching; (d) A bonus of £7 for each woman of the one-year's course of training, and of £14 for each woman of the two-years course of training, after two years probationary
†See (4) Debates, clix., 625.
§ pleted their course of training in the years mentioned are as follows:—
§ service of a satisfactory character in the actual work of teaching. In the case of non-resident students the bonus is the only cost to the State. The Commissioners have no official information as to the reasons why trained teachers leave Ireland. The question of improving the salaries of teachers is now under consideration.