§ Mr. BOLANDasked how many Irish national school teachers have been promoted by the Commissioners of National Education to the second division of first grade without any corresponding increase in salary prior to the 30th ultimo; whether a rule of the Treasury prevents an increase of salary in these cases; and whether, according to the rules of the Commissioners, it takes 21 years' highly efficient service, without any unfavourable report, to qualify for promotion to this grade?
§ Mr. BIRRELLSince 1st April, 1909, of seventy-six male teachers who have been promoted to the second division of first grade, thirty-two have not yet received the corresponding increases of salary, owing to the fact that there are no vacancies for male teachers in that division. All male principal teachers of twenty-one years' service, whose record is satisfactory, and who are serving in schools with an average attendance of fifty are eligible for promotion to the second section of the first grade, but many teachers of exceptional attainments receive this promotion in a much shorter time.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Commissioners of National Education return to 202 the Treasury, annually, unexpended balances sufficient to pay teachers promoted to the second division of first class the salaries to which their grade entitles them; whether the Commissioners, according to their last Report, asked permission of the Treasury to readjust the standard numbers in the various grades without any extra cost to the Treasury; whether the Treasury refused this permission, and why; and whether he will use his influence with the Treasury to allow the Commissioners to pay the above-mentioned teachers their grade salaries out of the unexpended balances returnable to the Treasury?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe unexpended balances which the Commissioners of National Education return annually to the Treasury fluctuate in amount, and it is not therefore possible to say whether such balances would be sufficient to pay the salaries of the teachers referred to. The Commissioners have more than once suggested a readjustment of the maximum numbers in the grades, so as to permit of promoted teachers receiving their grade salaries, but they did not say that the readjustment would involve no extra cost. On the contrary, as I have already stated on 23rd March, in reply to the question of the hon. Member for South Westmeath, any material increase in the standard number of teachers in the first grade would eventually entail a very considerable annual charge.