§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, when senior inspectors of national schools were first appointed in 1900, they were given any jurisdiction over the district inspectors of their circuits; and, if so, will he produce a copy of the regulation on the matter; if no jurisdiction of the kind referred to was conferred in 1900 will he give the exact date on which, prior to January, 1707, such jurisdiction was first conferred, as also the full regulation bearing on the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that prior to 1900 there were six head inspectors who had general control over the district inspectors. In 1900 these head inspectors, together with sixteen district inspectors, were appointed to be senior inspectors, and the twenty-two senior inspectors were given general control of the work of the district inspectors and other inspectors of inferior rank. The conferring of this control was notified by circulars of March, 1900, and April, 1901, the following extracts from which give the essential matter:—The senior inspector will be primarily responsible for the work of the circuit. The senior inspector, in addition to having special charge of an entire section of a circuit for a year, will have general control of the inspection of the circuit.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware of the discontent amongst inspectors of national schools owing to the way in which they are treated by some of the higher officials in the office; is he aware that the Commissioners notwithstanding say they 268 know nothing about any such discontent; is he aware that inspectors are strictly forbidden from bringing their grievances directly before the notice of any individual member of the Board; and whether he will, under these circumstances, say why the Commissioner, state they know nothing about the discontent, in view of the precautions taken to prevent any inkling thereof coming to their knowledge.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I have referred this Question to the Commissioners of National Education, who state that inspectors have full liberty to bring alleged grievances, or other matters in which they are personally concerned, under the notice of the Board through the proper channels. Inspectors, however, are properly forbidden to attempt to influence the judgment of individual Commissioners by making private representations to them about such matters.