§ MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can explain why the Local Government Board sanctioned the grant of a pension of £15 to the Protestant teacher and catechist to the Armagh union, but refused to sanction the pension of £9 voted to the Catholic assistant teacher and catechist; whether the Local Government Board refused to sanction the appointment of Miss O'Reilly as Catholic catechist, and, if so, on what grounds; whether the Catholic children are in charge of a non-Catholic matron, that night and morning prayers have to be recited by a pauper, and that the children have to be educated in the town schools: whether the Local Government Board have power to insist upon the appointment of a Catholic catechist; and 1119 whether they intend to make any attempt to relieve the present deadlock.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Local Government Board did not refuse to sanction a pension to Miss McKee, the assistant teacher, who acted as Catholic catechist. The guardians proposed, on July 29th, 1902, to abolish the office of schoolmistress, which was held by a Protestant, and that of assistant teacher, and to grant the holders superannuation allowances of £15 and £9 respectively, as compensation for loss of office, the workhouse children being sent to extern schools. The Board did not consent to these proposals, as they considered the arrangement objectionable, unless it were shown that the children were to be properly superintended before and after school hours. Despite the Board's protest, the guardians subsequently dispensed with the services of Miss McKee, and the Board had no power to prevent them from doing so. In September, 1903, the schoolmistress resigned on the grounds of permanent infirmity, and, with the Board's approval, was awarded a pension of £20 a year in respect of her service of twenty-four years. The Local Government Board did not refuse to sanction the appointment of Miss O'Reilly as Roman Catholic catechist. The guardians appointed her as Roman Catholic attendant, and while the Board were in correspondence with the guardians and the chaplain as to her duties she resigned, having accepted another situation. The matron is a Protestant. It is the duty of the master to make arrangements for the recital of morning and evening prayers. The workhouse children attend outside schools, where they presumably receive religious instruction. The Local Government Board have no power, under the existing regulations, to compel the guardians to appoint a Roman Catholic catechist