§ MR. MURPHY (Kerry, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland can state what would be the additional probable cost of making the payment of teachers' salaries monthly; whether the Commissioners are aware that the present system leads to inconvenience in many respects and that there is an unanimous desire for monthly payments; and whether he will request the Commissioners to effect a change in this matter that will be acceptable to the teaching body, and at the same time involve only a very trifling expenditure.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Commissioners of National Education refer to replies which were given to Questions on this subject on 3rd April and 28th June‡ last. I have already stated, on their authority, that the work of paying 17,000 national teachers, pupil teachers, &c, is one of great magnitude, and that it would be impossible to make monthly payments without a very largo increase of staff, and a consequent considerable increase in expenditure. The amount of this increase of expenditure could not be stated with anything approaching accuracy.
† See (4) Debates, clxiv., 561.‡ See (4) Debates, clv., 364, 365; clix., 1105.