§ Mr. JOHN MURPHYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Commissioners of National Education have made a rule to the effect that a knowledge of Irish shall only be required in one-third of the number of appointments to the junior inspectorate in future; if so, whether he can 2279 state on whose recommendation this rule was adopted; and whether, having regard to the fact that a larger percentage of inspectors with a knowledge of Irish will be required, he can get the rule amended?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education have made a regulation to the effect that, in the case of one-third of the vacancies for inspectorships, candidates will in future be required to undergo a qualifying examination in Irish. This regulation was adopted in consequence of the necessity, for the purposes of the efficient administration of the system of national education, of appointing inspectors who had a good knowledge of Irish, and in view of the fact that very few of otherwise highly qualified candidates for recent appointments were conversant with that subject. It would not be in the interest of the public service to say on whose recommendation this rule was adopted. The Commissioners do not propose at present to modify the regulation which they have so recently adopted, but, should the exigencies of the service require it, they would at some future date reconsider the matter.