§ MR. HUGH LAW (Donegal, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that principal teachers in Irish national schools appointed for the first time since 1st April, 1900, and to schools with an average attendance of less than seventy, are paid a lower annual salary, by £9 in the case of men and by £7 10s. in the case of lady teachers, than they would receive after having given the
† See (4) Debates, clxxii, 1000.856 same length of service as first assistants; and what steps he proposes to take in this matter.
§ MR. HUGH LAWTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, under the present rules, a newly appointed principal teacher must give fifteen years efficient service as principal before his salary becomes equal to that which he would have received as a first assistant of only nine years service; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
§ MR. HUGH LAWTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that in the case of an assistant teacher of five years service on becoming a principal the salary is fixed at £9 per annum more than if he had given the same term of service as a principal teacher; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that, as a rule, principal teachers appointed for the first time since 1900, who had not served before that year as assistant teachers, rank in the third grade on appointment, and are paid at the rate of that grade. Assistant teachers are as a rule paid at the rate laid down for third grade teachers, but under the-provisions of the fourth Schedule to The Irish Education Act, 1892, certain assistant teachers of five years standing are eligible for a bonus from the school grant of £9 per annum in the case of men, and £7 10 s. per annum in the case of women. No similar bonus is provided for principals under the Schedule to the Act. Third grade principal teachers in schools with an average of thirty pupils are, however, eligible for promotion to the second grade with the corresponding emolument, and in schools with an average of fifty but under seventy to the second division of first grade, with the emoluments of that grade. On the other hand assistant teachers, no matter what the size of the school may be, or the length of their service, are generally not eligible for promotion beyond the third grade. Principal teachers appointed since 1900, who had previously served as assistant teachers, receive as a 857 rule initial incomes as principals equal to their former incomes as assistants and in some cases higher incomes. A principal teacher appointed since 1900, with no previous service as assistant, would, in ordinary course of advancement, have a salary of £97 per annum after fifteen years service in addition to the residual capitation grant of about £7 10s. if serving in a small school of thirty pupils. An assistant master after nine years service would have only £86 per annum, including bonus under the Irish Education Act of 1892, with or without residual grant, as the average attendance might warrant. As I have already stated in the House, I should be glad to see some improvement in the position of the teachers generally, and I will continue to give the matter every consideration.