§ CAPTAIN CRAIG (Down, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state what standard of efficiency is being insisted upon by the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland in the case of junior assistant teachers who have at least two years service, in order that they may qualify for their share of the £114,000 grant; whether he is aware that 1062 no stipulation whatever was made as to efficiency when the scale of payments was passed by Parliament; and what the Commissioners propose to do with moneys saved through some junior assistant teachers proving inefficient.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I would refer the hon. Member to the revised Supplementary Estimate of 28th July last (H.C. Paper 255) in which it is stipulated that junior assistant mistresses sharing in the grant should have two years efficient service. The Commissioners of National Education inform me that a moderate standard of efficiency is required. I am unable to reply to the concluding portion of the Question, as the Commissioners have not yet completed the payment of junior assistant mistresses.