HC Deb 06 June 1912 vol 39 cc275-6
12. Captain CRAIG

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what reasons are assigned by the Commissioners of National Education for not putting lay assistants in convent schools on the same footing as regards security of tenure, salary, and pension rights as the women teachers in ordinary national schools; whether he is aware that a number of these teachers have been trained at the expense of the State, and that in some cases these lay assistants are obliged to teach extra subjects without any remuneration; whether he is prepared to have this question of convent assistants fully investigated; and whether he is aware that at the recent teachers' congress a resolution embodying the headings named was unanimously adopted?

Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture,) Ireland

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that lay assistants in convent national schools are employed and paid by the communities, and not by the Commissioners. They are not eligible for pension under the Teachers' Pension Act of 1879 so long as they are employed only as lay assistants. Some of these lay assistants are trained teachers, and have been unable to obtain employment in ordinary national schools owing to the non-occurrence of vacancies. A resolution to the effect stated was passed at the recent Congress of National Teachers. My right hon. Friend sees no necessity for any investigation in regard to these teachers, whose position and conditions of employment are well understood.

14. Captain CRAIG

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a rule has recently been made by the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland withholding three months' salary from married women teachers at the time of maternity unless such teachers pay substitutes for that period out of their own pockets; whether he is aware that difficulty is found in obtaining substitutes, and consequently the money is withheld at a time when it is most useful to pay the nurse, doctor, and other incidental expenses; and whether the money so saved is handed back to the Treasury or goes towards other educational purposes in Ireland?

Mr. RUSSELL

My right hon. Friend is aware that a rule has been made as stated. The Commissioners of National Education have no knowledge of the alleged difficulties in obtaining substitutes. They do not insist on such substitutes having the full qualifications required in other cases. Any portion of the Parliamentary Vote unexpended at the end of the financial year must be refunded to the Treasury.

23. Captain CRAIG

asked the Solicitor-General for Ireland whether, in granting paper promotion to first grade teachers, the Commissioners of National Education have, on the strength of Rule 105 (a), which positively asserts that teachers promoted from a lower to a higher grade receive on promotion the salary fixed for the grade to which they are promoted, made themselves responsible for the payment of the arrears due to these teachers; and whether these teachers could individually or collectively take any action to recover the sums due according to the rules of the Commissioners of National Education.

Mr. RUSSELL

My right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary is advised that the answer is in the negative.