§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the number of teachers trained in Irish elementary training colleges who have left Ireland for Great Britain from the beginning of 1900 to the end of 1905, together with the names of the colleges in which they were trained (indicating the number trained in each college); whether he can assign any reason for the departure of those teachers from Ireland; and whether he can also state the total amount expended on the training of those teachers, and say whether the sum so expended has been lost to elementary education in Ireland.
626 (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that, so far as can be ascertained from their records, the number of teachers trained in Irish elementary training colleges who have left Ireland for Great Britain from the beginning of 1900 to the end of 1905 is 242. The numbers trained in the different training colleges were:—Marlborough Street, 118; St. Patrick's, Drumconda, 18; Our Lady of Mercy, Baggot Street, and Blackrock, 15; Church of Ireland, 29; De la Salle, Waterford, 29; St. Mary's, Belfast, 16; Mary Immaculate, Limerick; 17. The records do not, however, purport to account for all cases, particularly as some teachers who were trained in Ireland and who went to Great Britain directly after their training, have not yet furnished returns of their destinations, and in such cases no information is available. The Commissioners have not sufficient data to enable them to assign a definite cause for the departure of those teachers. The total amount expended on the training of the teachers referred to was about £20,000, including diploma bonuses. It is not possible to say to what extent the sum so expended is lost to elementary education in Ireland, for not only have most of these teachers given service after their training and before leaving for Great Britain in Irish national schools, but many Irish trained teachers, after spending some time in Great Britain, have returned to Ireland and resumed service as national teachers. During the year 1905, twenty-two teachers who had gone to schools in Great Britain returned to Ireland and are again teaching in national schools.