§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will give the name of the official who is responsible to the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction in Ireland for the carrying out of the various schemes of horticulture throughout the country; whether he will state how many instructors are working under the Department; what are their qualifications and the salary paid to each; the amount of travelling expenses incurred under this head during 1909; what positions were held by each inspector previous to getting his present position; whether these appointments were made by nomination or as a result of a competitive examination; and how many are of Irish and Scotch birth, respectively?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe supervision of the work of the thirty-two instructors employed in connection with county horticultural schemes is part of the duty of the Department's horticultural overseer, Mr. Irving. The instructors must have an adequate knowledge of horticulture and ability to give instruction in it. Their salaries vary from £104 to £200 a year, but the latter rate is only paid by one county committee. The total amount paid to them for travelling expenses could not be ascertained except by applying to all the county committees. Some of the instructors were in the employment of the Department prior to their engagement by the county committees. The county committees usually advertise vacancies, and the Department test the qualifications of the candidates. So far as is known to the Department, all the instructors are Irishmen and trained at Glasnevin.