8. Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary whether complaints are made by certain national school teachers in Ireland that they are not reimbursed the amount of their out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the heating and cleansing of their particular national schools; and whether he will take steps to ensure that, where a Grant is made, vouchers for the expenditure, signed by the principal teachers, are produced by the managers in support of the claim?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that in all cases in which it appears that any portion of the expenditure on the heating and cleaning of a national school has been defrayed by the teacher the attention of the manager is called to the provisions of the Commissioners' Rule on the subject, and he is informed that arrangements must be made to relieve the teacher from the liability in future. Before payment of the Grant for heating and cleaning is made the Commissioners satisfy themselves that the teacher has been, or will be, reimbursed for the payments made by him, and the payment of the Grant is conditional on such repayment to the teacher. Any case of breach of the Commissioners' Rule on this subject which may be brought under their notice will be carefully inquired into. I am glad the hon. and gallant Gentleman has called my attention to this matter.