§ MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the nature of the special reports which the inspector is requested to furnish to the National Board of Education before a teacher is awarded an increase of salary or granted promotion; and whether any reasons can be assigned for the delay, running into months, in awarding increments and promotions to deserving teachers who have fulfilled all the necessary conditions imposed upon them by the Board?
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that their inspectors are not required to make special reports before teachers are promoted or awarded increments of salary. As a rule promotions and the award of increments depend on the ordinary reports of the annual inspection of the school. The Commissioners are not aware that there has been any such delay as is referred to in the Question. If any particular case of delay should be brought to their notice they would have the matter investigated.