§ Mr. LARDNERasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the supplemental grant for the salaries of Irish national teachers made last year, and known as the Birrell grant, has not been added to the salaries of the teachers entitled thereto and paid quarterly along with their salary, instead of at the end of the financial year in a lump sum; is he aware that the system of paying it at the end of the financial year has caused inconvenience to the teachers entitled to it; and will he cause inquiries to be made with a view to arranging for quarterly payments along with the salary in future?
§ Mr. CHERRYI am informed by the Commissioners of National Education that when the first payment from this grant was made it was impossible to provide for the payment of arrears in respect of the year ended 31st March, 1908, and also for quarterly payments during the year 1909, the whole sum made available by the Supplemental Vote in July, 1908, having been required to meet the claims for the former 561 period. It was then arranged that in future years the grant should be paid in April immediately after the conclusion of the financial year, and this arrangement cannot now be altered.
§ Mr. LARDNERMay I ask if the refusal to pay this supplemental grant quarterly is due to the delay in the payment of the money by His Majesty's Treasury, or the inherent objection on the part of the officials of the National Education Office in Ireland to do their work in a business like manner?
§ Mr. CHERRYThe money is paid by the Treasury, and it is impossible to pay the salary and the aditional grant until the latter is paid by the Treasury.
§ Mr. LARDNERWould it not be a more businesslike transaction to add the supplementary grant to the salaries of the teachers, and pay them together quarterly in one cheque?
§ Mr. CHERRYYes; but it would require additional money to do so now.