§ Mr. BOLANDasked whether any of the senior inspectors in the counties of Kerry, Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Clare, or Water-ford, in which the bilingual schools are situated, have a competent oral knowledge of Irish or are qualified to inspect bilingual schools through the medium of Irish as well as English; and whether either of the chief inspectors to whom reference is to be made, in accordance with the terms of the circular recently published in the Press, has a competent oral knowledge of Irish or is qualified to inspect bilingual schools through the medium of Irish as well as English?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe inspection of bilingual schools in the counties named is entrusted to inspectors who know Irish. There is at present only one chief inspector and neither he nor the senior inspectors in the counties named have the requisite knowledge of Irish. The inspector of Irish is also always available for the inspection of bilingual schools.