§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord- 1286 Lieutenant of Ireland what is the average salary paid to English, Scotch, and Irish principal teachers respectively for the year 1905; whether there is any difference between the work done in the three countries by these men, and, if so, what; whether the qualifying certificate of the Irish trained teacher is not as difficult as that in England and Scotland; whether, in addition to being more poorly paid than his English and Scotch brothers for doing the same work, the Irish teacher is at the same time, by the rules of the National Board, deprived of all civil rights, though they are fully enjoyed by English and Scotch teachers in common with the rest of the community; and whether, in view of the condition of Irish primary education, steps will be taken to have the whole subject the roughly inquired into by a Committee of this House.
MR. BRYCEThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that the figures as to the average salaries of teachers in the year 1905 are not yet available, but upon this point I may refer to the reply which I gave on the 7th inst. to the Question of the hon. Member for East Kerry. † It would not be practicable, in reply to a Question, to enter upon the consideration of the comparative qualifications of teachers in the three countries, or of the work done by them. I have already stated that in the opinion of the Commissioners the larger salaries paid in Great Britain are mainly due to the greater amount of local aid given, and to the fact that the schools are relatively larger and less numerous than in Ireland. National school teachers are not permitted to hold office as district councillors or Poor Law guardians, but I am not aware that they are deprived of any other civil rights. The question of the teachers' salaries will, as I have already stated, receive consideration—it is primarily a matter for the National Board. I am not prepared to say that an inquiry by a Committee of this House would be a proper mode of dealing with the matter.
§ †See (4)Debates,clvi., 993.
MR. THOMAS O'DONNELLLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the present time a large number of national teachers are liable to discharge without 1287 compensation or pension? Will he stay his hands until it can be ascertained what can be done for them?