§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL (Kerry, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in 196 opposition to a rule of the National Board requiring teachers appointed in Irish-speaking districts to know Irish, assistant teachers having no knowledge of Irish were appointed to the following schools, Lackagh boys school, Selerna boys school, Selerna girls school, Claregalway girls school, Spiddal girls school, all in districts where Irish is practically the universal language.
§ (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The provision to which the hon. Member refers requires that in the case of new appointments to schools in Irish-speaking districts the teacher must have an oral knowledge of Irish. This provision was for the first time included in the code issued in September last. The appointments in question were made before that date.