§ 19. Sir WALTER NUGENTasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if a decision has yet been arrived at with regard to the recoupment of salaries stopped from teachers in Ireland under the maternity rule which has recently been withdrawn; and, if not, when he expects to be able to announce the result of the investigations which were commenced in December last dealing with the claims of teachers in such cases?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Treasury have, subject to certain necessary limitations, sanctioned a refund to teachers who were in the service before due notice of the Maternity Rule was given of the loss inflicted on them by that rule.
23. Captain CRAIGasked if the Treasury arc making provision this year to grant the promised extension of the standard numbers of Irish national school teachers in first grade, so as to allow those who have got paper promotion to be financially promoted?
§ Mr. RUSSELLNo provision has been made in the Estimates for 1913–14 for the extension of the standard numbers in the first grade, nor has any such extension been promised. As has already been stated in reply to the question of the hon. Member for Mid-Armagh on this subject on the 26th October, 1911, the Irish Government informed the Commissioners of National Education that they were prepared to recommend to the Treasury a limited expansion of the standard numbers at present. fixed for the first grade on the understanding that no further promotions were made to that grade save on 16 the occurrence of vacancies. The Commissioners, however, declined the offer and no further action has since been taken in the matter.
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe real point of the reply to the question is that these teachers cannot be promoted until vacancies take place.
Captain CRAIGIs it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary promised that he would bring the matter before the Board and the Treasury, in order to get them to carry out their own rules?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe last paragraph of my answer states that the Commissioners declined the offer, and no further action has been taken in the matter.
§ Mr. O'DONNELLIf the education authorities in Ireland think a teacher deserves promotion, why is it that the Treasury authorities in this country refuse the salary attached to that promotion?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThat question ought to be addressed to the Commissioners.
§ Mr. O'DONNELLThrough you.
§ 33. Mr. HAYDENasked whether any arrangement has yet been made by the Commissioners of National Education with regard to the recoupment of those teachers who suffered financial loss owing to the operation of the recently withdrawn Maternity Rule 92 (j) of the Commissioners' Code?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have just given to the question of the hon. Member for South Westmeath on this subject.