§ MR. FETHERSTONHAUGHTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Miss Georgina Knox was in October, 1907, appointed assistant teacher at Ardess national school (Roll No. 11,717, District 3a); had Miss Knox passed the qualifying examination with King's scholarship; did the inspector of the national board several times inspect the school and report favourably on her educational work after her appointment; did she continue to discharge the duty till July, 1908; and on what ground was her appointment then declared invalid by the Board, and is she to receive any remuneration for her nine months' work.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that Miss Georgina Knox was appointed by the manager as assistant teacher in the Ardess national school in October, 1907. The Commissioners, on receiving a notification of the appointment in January, 1908, informed the manager that Miss Knox was ineligible, as she did not possess any of the qualifications prescribed by Rule 76 (a) and (b) of the Commissioners' Code. The fact that she had passed the qualifying examination for admission to a training college did not give her any claim to recognition as an assistant teacher. No special references were made by the inspector to Miss Knox's work. Notwithstanding the intimation that the appointment of Miss Knox could not be sanctioned, the manager retained her services up to the 30th June last. The Commissioners do not propose to make any payment to Miss Knox for the period during which she acted as teacher in this school.