§ MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to the character of letters sent by the senior secretary of the National Board to some of the inspectors of schools throughout Ireland; whether he is aware that this official refuses to grant any interviews to inspectors to whom such letters have been sent; and whether the Irish Government will represent to the Commissioners of National Education that this official is not a fit person to fill the responsible position of senior secretary any longer.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a Question on the same subject asked by the hon. Member for West Limerick on 11th March last. The Commissioners of National Education inform me that all letters written by their secretaries are issued by the authority of the Board or of the Resident Commissioner, and that there is no foundation for the statement that their senior secretary refuses to grant interviews to inspectors. This officer is, I understand, a most efficient public servant.