§ MR. GINNELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Commissioners of National Education for Ireland are now preparing new rides and regulations; 1870 whether he, remembering past friction in connnection with their rules, will ask them, before finally adopting new rules, to submit drafts of them to representatives of the respective organisations of managers and of teachers; when do the Commissioners propose to pay the supplementary grant for the year ending 31st March, 1909; do they intend to give annual increments of salary instead of triennial as at present; what is their intention regarding the quicker promotion of teachers; and will they enable teachers to reach the maximum of first-of-first grade before completion of thirty-six years of service.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe rules of the Commissioners of National Education are revised annually. The Revised Code for 1908–9 is now being circulated. I do not propose to make any suggestion to the Commissioners as to the method of revision. The supplementary grant for the year ending 31st March, 1909, cannot be paid until after that date. The Commissioners do not intend to give annual increments of salary, they desire to accelerate promotion in suitable cases, and they would also be glad to enable deserving teachers to reach their maximum sooner, but the necesssary funds are not at present available for the purpose.