§ MR. HALPIN (Clare, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, in the quarterly returns of the Irish national schools, there is a query which requires the teachers to have their character certified every three months; and as this query has given rise to much dissatisfaction, will he request the Commissioners of National Education to eliminate it from the quarterly return.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BIRRELL,) Bristol, N.The Commissioners of National Education inform me that it is the fact that managers are requested to state in the quarterly returns their opinion as to the teacher's character. The Commissioners have more than once had this query under consideration, but have not seen their way to abolish it. I will, however, commend the matter to their further consideration.