§ MR. J. MACVEAGHI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the statement of grievances prepared by the transition teachers under the National Board who were in training colleges in 1898 and 1899; whether he is aware that the arrears of salary due to them for the last seven years now amount to over £8,000, and that the amount of their incomes is at present nearly £2,000 a year less than it would be if they were allowed the classification and salary promised them in the rules under which they entered training; and whether their claims for redress will be at once considered.
§ MR. BIRRELLI can only repeat the answer which has been repeatedly given to similar Questions by my pre decessor and myself. The Commissioners of National Education assert that the class of teachers referred to in the Question has already received full consideration and that each particular case has been dealt with on its merits. The Commissioners possess plenary powers, which have been liberally exercised, to raise on appeal the grant of consolidated income in cases in which the operation of the rule is deemed inequitable. They are still prepared to consider any particular case brought under their notice which has not been already fully investigated. They cannot admit that any arrears of salary are due to the teachers in question, or that their in comes are nearly £2,000 a year less than they would have been under the old rules.