§ 81. Mr. SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Mrs. Margaret Kerin, assistant teacher in the Knockeenahane girls' school, whose appointment since 1st October, 1912, has been approved by the Commissioners of National Education, received her salary claim for the quarter ended 31st March, 1913; and, if not, what is the cause of it being withheld; what has become of her salary claim for the quarter ended 31st December last, which was handed to the manager, Monsignor O'Leary, P.P., Castleisland; and, seeing that the manager is not carrying out the rules of the Commissioners in respect of this teacher, will an order be issued that payment of her salary shall be made through the inspector, or a respectable resident approved by the Commissioners, as provided for in Schedule III.?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The Commissioners of National Education, by Order of the 26th November, 1912, sanctioned the appointment of Mrs. Kerin as full assistant from the 1st October, 1912. Mrs. Kerin was at the time a recognised junior assistant mistress in the school, but was a trained teacher and had the necessary qualifications for the higher position. She had been appointed junior assistant mistress by the manager, and it was assumed that he would have no objection to her appointment as full assistant when the average attendance at the school would warrant this course. The manager, however, refused to appoint her as full assistant, and declined to certify her application for a full assistant's salary for December, 1912, quarter. The appointments of teachers in ordinary national schools are in the hands of the local managers, and the Commissioners can pay no salary to any teacher unless the manager makes the appointment and enters into the usual form of official agreement.