§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL (Kerry, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction amongst inspectors of national schools in Ireland, because they are constantly harassed by letters from the Education Office, to which many of them had to write strongly in reply, while others had to travel long distances from the country to Dublin to remonstrate in person against such treatment, and some are afraid to give expression to their feelings on the matter for fear of penalties involved; whether these letters are the productions of clerks and others utterly ignorant of inspection work; whether any of the twenty Commissioners, except Dr. Starkie, can be sufficiently intimate with the working of the Education Office to know anything about the justice of any fine or censure imposed; and whether, seeing complaints or protests only load to further punishment which, owing to the ignorance of the inner working of the office on the part of nearly all the Commissioners, can be inflicted with impunity, he will appoint a small committee to inquire into the working of the National Education Office.
§ [The following Answer to be substituted for that printed in the Debates for Friday, 19th April, cols. 1260–1.]
§ (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education 1373 form me that they are not aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst their inspectors generally. Certain inspectors have been guilty of irregularities and have performed their duties in an unsatisfactory manner, and have consequently incurred official censure. This censure was not imposed until the cases had been very fully investigated by the chief or senior inspectors and the facts placed before the resident Commissioner or the Board. Two of the inspectors concerned were summoned before a special committee meeting of the Commissioners, and were afforded full opportunity of answering the charges brought against them. The Commissioners individually are kept fully informed of all the business of the office, and no serious punishment is inflicted on any officers without their authority. The maintenance of discipline among the staff is a matter which falls within the province of the Commissioners them selves, and no facts have been brought to my notice which would appear to call for the appointment of a committee to n quire into the matter.
| County. | Net amount drawn in respect of | Total. | |
| Arrears of Annuities. | Insufficiency of Income. | ||
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Antrim | 13 | 1,118 | 1,131 |
| Armagh | 70 | 1,293 | 1,363 |
| Carlow | 138 | 1,330 | 1,468 |
| Cavan | 44 | 154 | 198 |
| Clare | 164 | 435 | 599 |
| Cork | 831 | 4,050 | 4,881 |
| Donegal | 44 | 643 | 687 |
| Down | 119 | 2,114 | 2,233 |
| Dublin | 325 | 1,271 | 1,596 |