§ MR. J. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state whether in a national school, Roll No. 1950, Circuit 9, Section A, the infants 1087 are being effectively and efficiently taught at present; if so, why the Commissioners of National Education make it a condition before enlarging the school that future assistants shall be females; whether the average for the past five years has been steadily increasing; whether the appointment of a female might have the result of lowering the attendance; whether at present two teachers and a monitor are engaged in one small room; and whether in view of all these facts, the Commissioners will favourably consider the application of the manager.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners inform me that the school in question is reported to be conducted efficiently. Under Rule 127 (b) boys under seven years of age are ineligible for enrolment in a boys school where there is no mistress, unless there is no suitable school in the locality, or the probable result will be the loss of an assistant teacher to the school. In the existing school the rule has not been enforced because there is not sufficient accommodation in the girls' school for additional pupils. The Commissioners could not sanction a grant for the enlargement of the schoolhouse except on the conditions notified to the manager, namely, that provision must be made for the transfer of the infant boys to the girls' school unless the manager is prepared to appoint an assistant mistress to the boys' school on the occurrence of the first vacancy. The average attendance for the four years up to 1906 showed a steady increase, but last year there was a slight decrease. There is no reason to anticipate that the appointment of an assistant mistress would cause a lowering of the attendance. Two teachers and a monitor are at present employed in a room measuring thirty-four feet by nineteen feet. The Commissioners cannot entertain the manager's application except on the terms notified to him.