§ 15. Mr. HORNERasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state how many junior assistant teachers have been deprived of their positions owing to the alteration introduced by the Commissioners of National Education by Rule 86a (1911–12); and whether he will recommend the Commissioners either to reinstate these teachers or, in cases where this cannot be done, to suitably compensate them for the loss they have sustained through the action of the Commissioners in changing the rule under which they were induced to become teachers?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs stated in my reply to the question of the hon. Member for North-East Cork on the 21st March last, the managers of eighty-two schools have recently been requested to appoint assistant mistresses in the place of junior assistants. I understand that in each case where it has been necessary to replace junior assistant mistresses by an ordinary assistant the junior assistant mistress has been allowed the opportunity for promotion if she 1827 fulfils the requirements of the Commissioners' Rules on the subject. I am not in a position to hold out hopes of compensation or reinstatement to teachers not so qualified.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYIs the right hon. Gentleman keeping his eye on it? What is he doing about it?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI can assure the hon. and learned Gentleman that I have had some correspondence upon the subject. It is a hard case and if I can find a way to meet it I will do so if he stirs my conscience again.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYI will repeat the dose.
§ 17. Mr. LARDNERasked whether any communications have been as yet addressed to the local authorities as to the provision of a sum from local sources equivalent to the Treasury Grant set aside for medical inspection of national schools in Ireland; and what is the result?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo communication has yet been made to local authorities, but I am in correspondence with the Commissioners of National Education on the subject.